Jade Geneve Kepner - Page 1
Page 2Almost seventy years ago, at the age of nine, Jade Geneve began her career as a professional dancer. She went on to become a well known featured dancer, appearing with many of the famous names of her day - Danny Kaye - Ray Bolger - Carman Miranda - Elvis Presley - Frank Sinatra, and many others. She appeared on stage, tv, in films and at leading supper clubs through out the country.
For over two years she was featured as dance soloist on one of tv's top shows, 'Stop The Music', along with guest star appearances on the Ed Sullivan, Milton Beryle, Sid Caesar and Emegine Coco shows, and countless other top t.v. appearances.
Jade had the good fortune to study ballet with George Ballanchine, Michael Fokine, Madam Crask, Dukodosky... modern dance with Martha Graham, Charles Wiedman... jazz with Mat Mattox, Lugie... tap with Bill Gary, Paul Draper... acting with Sanford Misner at the neighborhood play house.. stage movement, mitzie mayfair, agnrs d'mille... this list could go on and on with so many more of her fine teachers and friends.
Her credits also include the choreography for the off broadway productions of 'Annie Get Your Gun', "Oklahoma', "Guys and Dolls', and several original pieces for singers, dancers and actors on stage and television.
After a serious auto accident she was told she would never walk again. She used her extensive training in the field of dance to teach herself not only to walk, but to dance again.
In her own healing process she worked at Roosevelt hospital with amputees, at the Havestraw Center for polio victims in New York, with emotionally disturbed children at Bellevue hospital in New York, and at rehab centers for delinquent boys and girls.
In all these areas she worked closely with doctors and therapists and learned much under their guidance. Jade Geneve, along with Dr. Miles in Washington D.C., became well known as the innovators of using dance as therapy.
Later she married her child hood sweetheart and moved to La Jolla California, where she opened La Jolla Dance Center, a very successful studio with high standards and a minimum enrollment of 250 students.
La Jolla dance center focused on good clean technique, creativity, and the freedom to express the joy of movement. Although Jade's goal was not to 'push' students to become professional dancers, many went on to find 'fame' in New York, others became very good teachers, and all carry with them a special something their dance classes gave to them.
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