Growing up in New Jersey, Jennifer Jones discovered her destiny at age nine. At her fourth grade recital, her teacher picked her to be one of the leads. She does not know why she was chosen, because she was very shy.
“After going to rehearsals before school, staying late after school for rehearsals, then to finally doing the show, I came on stage and I was so nervous right before the curtain went up,” Jones recalled. “Then, the curtain lifted and I felt like I was at home. That was the first time I felt like it was natural for me, but it wasn’t until my parents took me to see ‘The Wiz’ on Broadway that it clicked.”
Her parents loved going to Broadway shows and took Jones and her sister to see “The Wiz,” which she describes as an amazing experience. Seeing Stephanie Mills and Hinton Battle — people who looked like her — on a grand stage with a live orchestra in a Broadway theater, she knew innately that she wanted to do what they did.
“I didn’t know what training was needed or what an audition was; it was just that pure passion of knowing that was what I wanted to do,” Jones said.
She dove into dance lessons to pursue her dream. At 19, her focus was landing a spot in a Broadway show, but another opportunity presented itself: an audition for the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. She had no knowledge about the dance troupe, but an audition was an opportunity.
“All I knew is that I was very nervous at auditions, very green in the business, and I needed to get those under my belt,” Jones said. “The audition started at 10 and I got there at 10, but I didn’t realize how many ladies were going to show up. I was going to leave and take my jazz class, but that inner gut feeling told me to stay.”
Casting can be subjective, but Jones feels they saw something in her. In 1987, Jones became the first African American Rockette, bringing her exuberant and elegant dancing to the iconic dance line. Her first job was performing in the Super Bowl XXII halftime show. Later that year, she was hired for the Christmas Spectacular.
“When I said yes to the job, I was getting my groove on,” said Jones. “This is what I was in the city to do, and I was working a professional job. I was very happy.”
She didn’t initially know she was the first African American Rockette, but she gladly accepted a spot on the roster when it was offered. Over her 18 years with the company, there were many wonderful moments, but she also experienced some harsh realities. One time, she went to the costume person and asked for tights that matched her skin color. The request was met with an angry response.
“With change comes resistance,” said Jones. “There were ladies on the line and people in management who did want a Black Rockette on the line and then there were people who didn’t. It took a lot of courage to ask for skin-tone tights. It was something that I thought maybe they had never thought of … It was difficult to handle certain situations, and I had to learn who to lean into [to trust] … All I know is I did my best job possible to be the best Rockette that I could be.
“I loved dancing on that landmark stage and walking out of the backstage door, knowing I was contributing to a family tradition with the Christmas Spectacular.”
Eventually, she did live her Broadway dream in a 2001 revival of “42nd Street.” Jones also appeared in commercials for Delta Air Lines, 1-800-Flowers, and TransUnion.
In 2023, Jones shared her story with young readers through her children’s book On the Line: My Story of Becoming the First African American Rockette (Harper Collins). This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Rockettes, and to mark the occasion, Jones has written a memoir, Becoming Spectacular: The Rhythm of Resilience from the First African American Rockette (Amistad, an imprint of Harper Collins). In it, she details her life, from the fateful audition to her debut to her ultimate departure — along with personal details, including relationships, her family, and overcoming colorectal cancer at age 50.
“I hope to inspire people to go after their dreams,” said Jones, who would love to get into judging at dance conventions. “At nine years old, I knew what I wanted to do. Children may have that innate pure passion for something they may love. Never let go of that dream. Even though things may get sidetracked, those are all things helping you to grow. You can shine bright and bring that gift out into the world.”