Cortlandt Jones considers himself lucky, seeing that his entire dance career was based on work that he never had to audition for.
Whenever a project would come up, choreographers would get together and talk among themselves, asking for recommendations. Due to his strong dancing techniques, Jones’s name would inevitably come up.
That’s how he got hired as one of 12 core dancers in Michael Jackson’s original 1982 “Thriller” video. This year, “zombie” dancers are fortunate to have this original “Thriller” performer as their dance captain for Ajijic’s annual “Thrill the World” performance on October 28.
“Dancing in ‘Thriller’ was an intense experience,” says Jones. “Michael Peters, the choreographer, strived for absolute perfection, so he selected the best dancers for the project. As any good choreographer, Peters choreographed for his subject, creating movements that Jackson was able to do. Although Jackson was a very good mover, he wasn’t a technical dancer. Most likely, though, he offered Peters his creative input.”
Grueling rehearsals spanned one and a half months, five days a week, with one week for the actual filming. In order to achieve the darkest, eeriest effects, the dancers performed during the wee hours of the night, on the streets of a Los Angeles industrial complex. “We had to report to the set at 10 p.m. and didn’t finish until sunrise,” Jones adds.
The dancers were expected to come up with their own characters. “Makeup took three to four hours,” Jones says. “The costume folks hit the local thrift stores, bought a bunch of
clothes, then ripped them all up, and those were our costumes. At one of the later rehearsals, I remember Peters saying, ‘Now that you know the steps, put some acting into it. Who are you? Why are you here? Where did you come from?’ This is what I will convey to the Ajijic dancers. Learn the steps, perform them and then put a character to those steps.”
After three years with the North Carolina Dance Theatre, Jones followed his dream by moving to Los Angeles to work in TV, stage, cabaret and music videos. Getting to perform with such stars as Lucille Ball, Goldie Hawn and Donna Summer, his longest period as a professional dancer was with Ann-Margaret, dancing in her Las Vegas shows and tours. He also landed roles in “The Color Purple,” “Protocol,” “King Kong” and “Annie.”
During his youth, Jones was known for constantly dancing around the house. It was his father who discovered the Wally Saunders Dance Studio in Baltimore. Throughout high school, Jones took classes in ballet, modern, jazz and tap. “Because I was fortunate to receive a scholarship,” he says, “my dance teacher encouraged me to take as many classes as I wanted. Not only did I take upper level classes, but I took ballet classes with five year olds. I believe that one always needs to go back to the basics.”
During the Vietnam era, Jones moved to New York to work, study and find his way in the dance world. While there only one month, his mother called him with news that he received his draft notice. Joining the Air Force meant taking a hiatus from dancing during those four years. After his military stint, he enrolled in the dance program at the North Carolina School for the Arts, graduating with a BFA degree.
Jones’ teaching career spans over 30 years in ballet and jazz, either as a faculty member or master class instructor in five states. At 70 years old, he has no plans to retire from teaching, nor dancing.
When he and his partner, Brent, aren’t living in Ajijic, they are in Asheville, North Carolina. “In Ajijic, I teach jazz classes and take tango and salsa lessons. Last winter, I was in Lakeside Little Theatre’s production of ‘Chicago’ and, every year, I look forward to partaking in the area’s popular musical variety show, Lip Sync.”
“Thrill the World” is seeking dancers to join thousands of others around the world doing the same choreography to the same music at the same time. The performance takes place October 28, 4 p.m. at the Ajijic Cultural Center. Rehearsals are twice weekly: Saturdays, 1-3 p.m. and Wednesdays, 5-7 p.m. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Proceeds from this year’s performance will go to the Tepehua Community Center and the School for Special Children, located in Jocotepec.