Quotable Talk | Jennifer Jones

Get inspired. Be empowered. Become quotable.

Sarasota Art Museum presents an inspiring lineup of great writers with great stories through this annual author series. Hear directly from authors, artists, and contemporary creatives who are sparking new ways of thinking about art, culture, and creative practices. For those who appreciate remarkable creativity, a pioneering spirit, or are in search of inspiration, we invite you to join us and become quotable.

Jennifer Jones is a Tony Award–winning dancer and activist known for becoming the first African American Rockette. Since 1987, she has advocated for equal rights in the arts, and her work has been celebrated by the Harlem School of the Arts, Radio City Music Hall, and Madison Square Garden. A survivor of colon cancer, she lives in New Jersey with her husband, Jeffrey.

Following the talk, Jones will sign copies of her book Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette, available for purchase in the Museum’s SHOP.

About the Book

Becoming Spectacular brings to light a significant yet hidden chapter of American dance history, revealing the gritty reality behind the iconic, synchronized high kicks and megawatt smiles of the Radio City Rockettes. While the Rockettes have long been celebrated as an emblem of American culture, their history has not always reflected America's diversity. A 63-year color barrier held until 1987 when Jennifer Jones, with a special blend of bravery and perseverance, shattered this restriction and revolutionized the world of dance. The memoir is an intimate portrait of Jones' resilience and tenacity, as she navigated racism, prejudice, and fierce resistance to join the Rockette line-up – a journey as dazzling and challenging as the dance troupe itself. The narrative also exposes the speed bumps Jones encountered from her early days training to her final performances. Becoming Spectacular is not just a dance memoir but a triumphant tale of a trailblazer who refused to be sidelined and silenced. Jones’ memoir is laden with courage, failure, success, and the sheer will of a woman who dared to dream against the odds. Jones invites readers to step beyond the lush velvet curtains into the heart of the Rockettes and the world of dance – a world that she has strived to make more inclusive and equitable.

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Host or Publisher Sarasota Art Museum