Rising up in New Jersey, Jennifer Jones found her future at age 9. At her fourth grade recital, her instructor picked her to be one of many leads. She doesn’t know why she was chosen, as a result of she was very shy.
“After going to rehearsals earlier than college, staying late after college for rehearsals, then to lastly doing the present, I got here on stage and I used to be so nervous proper earlier than the curtain went up,” Jones recalled. “Then, the curtain lifted and I felt like I used to be at residence. That was the primary time I felt prefer it was pure for me, nevertheless it wasn’t till my mother and father took me to see ‘The Wiz’ on Broadway that it clicked.”
Her mother and father cherished going to Broadway reveals and took Jones and her sister to see “The Wiz,” which she describes as a tremendous expertise. Seeing Stephanie Mills and Hinton Battle — individuals who regarded like her — on a grand stage with a dwell orchestra in a Broadway theater, she knew innately that she wished to do what they did.
“I didn’t know what coaching was wanted or what an audition was; it was simply that pure ardour of realizing that was what I wished to do,” Jones mentioned.
She dove into dance classes to pursue her dream. At 19, her focus was touchdown a spot in a Broadway present, however one other alternative introduced itself: an audition for the Radio Metropolis Music Corridor Rockettes. She had no data concerning the dance troupe, however an audition was a chance.
“All I knew is that I used to be very nervous at auditions, very inexperienced within the enterprise, and I wanted to get these beneath my belt,” Jones mentioned. “The audition began at 10 and I bought there at 10, however I didn’t notice what number of women have been going to indicate up. I used to be going to depart and take my jazz class, however that interior intestine feeling advised me to remain.”
Casting will be subjective, however Jones feels they noticed one thing in her. In 1987, Jones turned the primary African American Rockette, bringing her exuberant and chic dancing to the long-lasting dance line. Her first job was performing within the Tremendous Bowl XXII halftime present. Later that 12 months, she was employed for the Christmas Spectacular.
“Once I mentioned sure to the job, I used to be getting my groove on,” mentioned Jones. “That is what I used to be within the metropolis to do, and I used to be working knowledgeable job. I used to be very blissful.”
She didn’t initially know she was the primary African American Rockette, however she gladly accepted a spot on the roster when it was supplied. Over her 18 years with the corporate, there have been many fantastic moments, however she additionally skilled some harsh realities. One time, she went to the costume individual and requested for tights that matched her pores and skin coloration. The request was met with an offended response.
“With change comes resistance,” mentioned Jones. “There have been women on the road and other people in administration who did need a Black Rockette on the road after which there have been individuals who didn’t. It took a variety of braveness to ask for skin-tone tights. It was one thing that I assumed possibly that they had by no means considered … It was troublesome to deal with sure conditions, and I needed to be taught who to lean into [to trust] … All I do know is I did my greatest job attainable to be the most effective Rockette that I could possibly be.
“I cherished dancing on that landmark stage and strolling out of the backstage door, realizing I used to be contributing to a household custom with the Christmas Spectacular.”
Finally, she did dwell her Broadway dream in a 2001 revival of “forty second Avenue.” Jones additionally appeared in commercials for Delta Air Strains, 1-800-Flowers, and TransUnion.
In 2023, Jones shared her story with younger readers by way of her kids’s ebook On the Line: My Story of Changing into the First African American Rockette (Harper Collins). This 12 months marks the one centesimal anniversary of the Rockettes, and to mark the event, Jones has written a memoir, Changing into Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette (Amistad, an imprint of Harper Collins). In it, she particulars her life, from the fateful audition to her debut to her final departure — together with private particulars, together with relationships, her household, and overcoming colorectal most cancers at age 50.
“I hope to encourage individuals to go after their goals,” mentioned Jones, who would like to get into judging at dance conventions. “At 9 years previous, I knew what I wished to do. Youngsters might have that innate pure ardour for one thing they might love. By no means let go of that dream. Although issues might get sidetracked, these are all issues serving to you to develop. You may shine shiny and convey that reward out into the world.”
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