Jeni Le Gon
Encyclopedia
Jeni Le Gon is an American dancer, dance instructor, and actress. She was one of the first African-American women to establish a solo career in tap. She was born Jennie Bell in Chicago, Illinois. Her parents were Hector Ligon, a chef who also worked as a railway porter, and Harriet Bell Ligon, a housewife. She graduated from Sexton Elementary School in 1928, and at age thirteen got her first job in musical theater. Le Gon eventually auditioned for the chorus line of band leader Count Basie
and was selected.
Le Gon and her half sister, Willa Mae Lane, formed a song-and-dance team. They were given the opportunity to go to Detroit and work with nightclub owner Leonard Reed. While there, they received an offer to travel to Hollywood and perform with composer Shelton Brooks
. Upon arrival, they discovered there was, in fact, no job. Le Gon heard about auditions being held by Ethel Waters
' former manager, Earl Dancer. The audition was for a film that Fox Studios
was producing. She won the part and subsequently appeared in dance numbers in several musicals.
While in Hollywood, Le Gon had the opportunity to work with performers such as Ethel Waters
and Al Jolson
. She danced with Fred Astaire
and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
, becoming the first African-American woman to do so on screen. During this time, she was given a role in Hooray for Love
, which led MGM
to offer her a long-term contract, making Le Gon the first African-American woman to receive such an opportunity. In 1969, Le Gon settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she taught tap and point. In 1999, the National Film Board of Canada
released Grant Greshuk’s prize-winning documentary Jeni Le Gon: Living in a Great Big Way.
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
and was selected.
Le Gon and her half sister, Willa Mae Lane, formed a song-and-dance team. They were given the opportunity to go to Detroit and work with nightclub owner Leonard Reed. While there, they received an offer to travel to Hollywood and perform with composer Shelton Brooks
Shelton Brooks
Shelton Brooks was a popular music and jazz composer who wrote some of the biggest hits of the first third of the 20th century.Brooks was born in Amherstburg, Ontario, Canada...
. Upon arrival, they discovered there was, in fact, no job. Le Gon heard about auditions being held by Ethel Waters
Ethel Waters
Ethel Waters was an American blues, jazz and gospel vocalist and actress. She frequently performed jazz, big band, and pop music, on the Broadway stage and in concerts, although she began her career in the 1920s singing blues.Her best-known recordings includes, "Dinah", "Birmingham Bertha",...
' former manager, Earl Dancer. The audition was for a film that Fox Studios
20th Century Fox
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation — also known as 20th Century Fox, or simply 20th or Fox — is one of the six major American film studios...
was producing. She won the part and subsequently appeared in dance numbers in several musicals.
While in Hollywood, Le Gon had the opportunity to work with performers such as Ethel Waters
Ethel Waters
Ethel Waters was an American blues, jazz and gospel vocalist and actress. She frequently performed jazz, big band, and pop music, on the Broadway stage and in concerts, although she began her career in the 1920s singing blues.Her best-known recordings includes, "Dinah", "Birmingham Bertha",...
and Al Jolson
Al Jolson
Al Jolson was an American singer, comedian and actor. In his heyday, he was dubbed "The World's Greatest Entertainer"....
. She danced with Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire
Fred Astaire was an American film and Broadway stage dancer, choreographer, singer and actor. His stage and subsequent film career spanned a total of 76 years, during which he made 31 musical films. He was named the fifth Greatest Male Star of All Time by the American Film Institute...
and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson
Bill Robinson
Bill “Bojangles” Robinson was an American tap dancer and actor of stage and film. Audiences enjoyed his understated style, which eschewed the frenetic manner of the jitterbug in favor of cool and reserve; rarely did he use his upper body, relying instead on busy, inventive feet, and an expressive...
, becoming the first African-American woman to do so on screen. During this time, she was given a role in Hooray for Love
Hooray for Love
"Hooray for Love" is a song title that appears on two separate songs. The earlier song was composed by Jimmy McHugh, lyrics by Dorothy Fields, for a 1935 RKO-Radio movie of the same title....
, which led MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
to offer her a long-term contract, making Le Gon the first African-American woman to receive such an opportunity. In 1969, Le Gon settled in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she taught tap and point. In 1999, the National Film Board of Canada
National Film Board of Canada
The National Film Board of Canada is Canada's twelve-time Academy Award-winning public film producer and distributor. An agency of the Government of Canada, the NFB produces and distributes documentary, animation, alternative drama and digital media productions...
released Grant Greshuk’s prize-winning documentary Jeni Le Gon: Living in a Great Big Way.