Dancer Jean Veloz has died at the age of 98.
The Hollywood performer, who was well known for her Lindy Hop dances, passed away on Sunday (January 15) at her Los Angeles home, confirmed her friend and agent Rusty Frank.
Rusty told The Hollywood Reporter: “Jean innovated a style of swing dance that was admired around the world. It was silky smooth and greatly contrasted the more jitterbug style prevalent during the 1930s-’40s.”
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He added: “Every moment spent with Jean was a lesson on how to live a life. Her positive attitude was unparalleled, her love of people immense.”
Jean also appeared in many nostalgic movies, such as 1943’s Swing Fever, 1943’s Jive Junction, and 1945’s The Horn Blows at Midnight.
During her stint in Swing Fever, Jean danced as part of the number One Girl and Two Boys alongside servicemen Lennie Smith and Don Gallagher to the song of Kay Kyser’s band with singer Marilyn Maxwell.
She also danced the jitterbug in Where Are Your Children? Back in 1943, and performed alongside Bob Ashley that year in Jive Junction.
The extraordinary performer danced with Arthur Walsh in the 1944 MGM short film Groovie Movie, and Dean Collins in 1945’s The Horn Blows at Midnight, which starred Jack Benny.
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Jean began training with dancer Frank Veloz at one of his schools he ran with his wife Yolanda.
She earned a Screen Actors Guild card after winning a contest at Hollywood Legion Stadium, which led her to be cast in the production.
Jean married Harold Davi in 1947, with the couple divorcing a few years later.
The actress temporarily retired from show business following Frank Veloz’s death in 1981 and in 1996 was inducted into the California Swing Dance Hall of Fame.
Following news of her passing, her fans took to social media to pay tribute to the legendary dancer.
One Twitter user wrote: “The Lindy hop community lost an icon yesterday…Jean Veloz.”
Another said: “Just heard about the loss of Jean Veloz, one of the last original swing dancers. We first met her with @gottaswingdc in 97 on our 1st USA tour & worked with her many times over 25 years.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
