“Kudos! An experience I needed without realizing it,
like an infusion of vitamins that relieves a deficiency you didn't know you had.”

(l to r) Ethel Martin, Chita Rivera, George Martin, Alan Johnson
and Marge Champion In their Dressing Room before the panel began

“You did it! It's time for your ‘pat on the back and picture on the whole front page.’ An incredible job putting it all together with such great selections of dance material on film, having all those who worked with him give their points of view and respect, and his original fabulous dancers for this special tribute… one of the best events DO40 has presented to date.”

“Last night was a night to behold and could have gone on for hours. It was so enjoyable that one never realized how long it was. It was a fabulous presentation and everyone was at their best. Dick Cavett, Chita, Marge Champion, Alan Johnson and Annette MacDonald and all others. How wonderful these presentations are. They bring dancers and the love they have for the art much closer. It was an array of talent last night! How lucky some of us are to have been part of the Genius of Jack Cole. To be good enough to dance under his direction, and to take what he had to offer and learn from him and to get to know him. He was a down to earth guy and a man with a sense of humor that no one could match. His incredible choreography performed by such great stars, shown on film executed with perfection and great humor and style, as only Jack could have done. And Gwen was right, when she received the award for her contribution as a dancer, "this is for Jack Cole" in honor of her great dancing achievements. It was a very exciting night and as I talked to people, "Dancers Over 40" has become a very popular event and will become more so as we go on. Not only do you learn about Choreographers and their relationships with their dancers and experiences of the Golden Age but mainly DO40 is for the dancer and their needs. What can I tell you. DO40 made it a great night.”

“A great event, as always. You really outdid yourself. (Though Dick Cavett got a bit carried away!)”

“It was just glorious! I'm dancing with Jack now (just kidding). Those clips were awesome, and hope we'll be able to catch a glimpse again.”

“Many congratulations! I just wanted to report that I think we have new members joining because of last night's show. But for me, the great thrill was in having George Martin talk about a show stopping number from a flop show, that had been saved on film, and with him sitting there, we got to see the pages of time go back and actually see that number with him sitting there!!!! What a brilliant number and what a treat for all of us!!!!! That and Marge talking about that amazing piece with her sitting there. I wish we could have heard more from those folks (and a little less from Dick Cavett!). It was an incredible happening.”

“What a fabulous evening! The Jack Cole event was especially remarkable for its scope—performers, reflections, film and TV clips AND live performances! Don't know how you and DO40 assembled it all in such a short amount of time, but it was sensational! Bravo and kudos to all! Can't wait for the next program!”

“Congratulations! I can't tell you how great it is to have been part of it all. I would call it rich! Thank you for the spirit in you that makes you do this. And thanks to all the participants I had the honor to meet.”

 

 

With a cast the size of a small Off-Broadway musicale, it looked like we were going to creep out into the sunlight after the Finale! It was wild, it was wacky, it was loooong! There was so much ground to cover, so many incredibly fabulous and rare dance clips, and stories about Cole and the lives of his dancers that after intermission, the crowd got bigger -- and, as we said, it was already SOLD OUT!

Seen in the crowd: Barbara Cook, Lypsinka, the New York Times, Vanity Fair. Special thanks to our board, and especially Harvey Evans, Kathy Gurland and Lois Silk. Saints and Martyrs to the end! And you three know who's whom! And Chita, Marge and Dick -- a huge wet kiss for participating in our event. It meant a heck of a lot to us! And a crew of volunteers! Old members (well, we mean not RECENT members!) and new, and even some FODO 40's... (friends of Dancers over 40). Thank you's to Quinn Lemley, (LEFT, with raised hand!) Richard Skipper, Mary Lou Barber, Jalynn Steele, Rosie, Lee O'Connor...and a bunch more that are getting left out because, well, we’re over 40 and sometimes we forget!

And did you hear about the missing photo from the set? Someone walked off with a 5 foot by 5 foot mounted photo of Jack Cole -- the same shot that was in the New York Times October 10th ! See what happens when it's a standing room only crowd! If anyone saw a HUGE photo walking out of the theater, please let us know!