Jennifer Jones (Rockette) facts for kids
Jennifer Jones was born on August 1, 1967. She is a famous American dancer and actress. In 1987, she made history by becoming the first African American Rockette at Radio City Music Hall.
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Early Life and Education
Jennifer Jones grew up in Randolph, New Jersey, after being born in Newark, New Jersey. She went to Randolph High School and later studied at County College of Morris.
Becoming a Rockette
In 1987, when Jennifer Jones was 20 years old, she tried out to become a Radio City Music Hall Rockette. She was chosen from 221 women who wanted one of the 26 open spots. This made her the first African American Rockette in the dance company's 62-year history. She was the only African American dancer chosen for the on-call spots in New York City that year.
What It Takes to Be a Rockette
To be a Rockette, dancers need to be between 5 ft 6 in (1.68 m) and 5 ft 10.5 in (1.791 m) tall without shoes. Jennifer Jones, at 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) tall, fit this rule. Dancers also need to be skilled in ballet, tap, and jazz dance styles. The New York Times also mentioned that Rockettes needed a "slender figure, long legs, and the ability to perform 20 eye-level kicks while retaining proper posture."
Jennifer Jones danced with the Rockettes for 15 years. During this time, she went on national tours and performed on TV shows. One famous performance was Comic Relief IV, an HBO special in 1990. It featured stars like Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, and Robin Williams dancing with the Rockettes.
In 2002, Jennifer retired from the Rockettes. She then joined the Rockette Alumnae Association, which is a group for former Rockettes.
Breaking Barriers
When Jennifer Jones joined the Rockettes in 1987, she broke a long-standing rule. For many years, Radio City Music Hall did not hire African American dancers for its Rockettes chorus line. This was because they wanted all the dancers to look exactly the same to keep their famous "precision" style.
The Rockettes dance company was started in 1925 by Russell E. Markert. He wanted the dancers to move perfectly together, like one unit. Markert even told his dancers not to get sun-tanned. He said it would make them "look like a colored girl."
These rules lasted for many decades. In 1982, the Rockettes' director, Violet Holmes, explained why there were no African American dancers. She said that the Rockettes were known for their precision, and the dancers needed to be "mirror images" on stage. She felt that "one or two black girls in the line would definitely distract."
However, civil rights groups like the NAACP and the City Council's Black and Hispanic Caucus criticized the company for not having diverse dancers. They pointed out that New York City was very multicultural. Radio City Music Hall responded by saying that job openings were rare. They also said they placed ads in black, Hispanic, and Asian newspapers to encourage minority dancers to audition.
Super Bowl Performance
Jennifer Jones made her national debut with the Rockettes on January 31, 1988. This was during the Super Bowl XXII halftime show in San Diego. The show was called "Something Grand" and featured 1,200 performers.
The 12-minute show included 44 Rockettes, 400 swing band members, 300 Jazzercisers, and 88 pianists playing on 88 grand pianos. Two college marching bands also performed. R&B singer Chubby Checker sang his hit song, The Twist. The pianists played a version of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto, with the Rockettes dancing along.
Awards and Recognition
Broadway Success
In 2001, during her last years with the Rockettes, Jennifer Jones performed in the Broadway show 42nd Street. This show won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical that year. She was one of three African American women in the cast.
Honored by The Harlem School of the Arts
In 2016, The Harlem School of the Arts honored Jennifer Jones with a special dance show. It was called "The Harlem City Music Hall Dance Spectacular." The show was inspired by Jennifer's journey and how she broke barriers as a Rockette. It featured young dancers from the school. The story was about a young girl named Little JJ who dreamed of becoming a Rockette. It showed how dreams can come true with hard work and courage. At the event, Jennifer said that by being the first African American Rockette, she helped open doors for future dancers.
O Mag Insider
In August 2018, Jennifer Jones was named an "O Mag Insider" by O, The Oprah Magazine.
Author and Doll Maker
Jennifer Jones has also become an author and doll maker. In 2023, she released her children's book, On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette. This book shares her dance journey. In 2025, she released her autobiography, Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette.
Jones has also created the "Dancing Jenn Doll" collection for children. These dolls celebrate talent, diversity, and self-belief. Through her books and dolls, Jennifer Jones continues to inspire people around the world.
Personal Life
Jennifer Jones lives in West Orange, New Jersey.
