Jay Norman

Joshua Alden "Jay" Norman (March 20, 1937 – November 14, 2021) was a dancer, actor, and choreographer known for his work in both stage and film productions, particularly in musical theater. He is best known and most closely associated with West Side Story, in which he performed on stage in the original Broadway production, and on tour nationally and internationally, as well as in the 1961 film adaptation. He was also a key member of Jerome Robbins’ "Ballets USA".

Early life Norman was born in Manhattan, New York, on March 20, 1937, to Joshua and Olga Norman (née Kennedy ). Norman was raised in The Bronx and in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area. was drafted into the US Army during World War 2. His mother, Olga, was a nurse, and in 1940 moved in with her aunt and mother. Norman then spent some time in the American Female Guardian Society and Home for the Friendless in the Bronx, where he was known as Jay. After returning from the war, Norman's father lived with the family for a short time At 15 years old, whilst attending vocational high school intending to become an automotive engineer, Norman's mother met his stepfather, who had a background in dancing and performed in nightclubs.

Norman's father was African-American and originally from Henderson, North Carolina. who were respectively closely associated with the Upper Mattaponi people and the Chickahominy people. Norman's maternal grandfather, Alden Garland Kennedy, was African-American and originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and as a young man had been artist eventually becoming a lawyer.

Career

Norman's professional journey began when he spent a summer dancing in the chorus of eight musicals at Pittsburgh’s summer theater. Later, he started teaching ballet at The Blackburn Twins School of Dance in Great Neck, Long Island. Though hired for ballet, his interest in jazz grew, leading him to study jazz dancing with Frank Wagner, Matt Mattox, and Luigi. Norman was also the first member of the cast to be injured and although he was injured numerous times during the show's run, he only missed one performance, during the Philadelphia engagement.

Outside of West Side Story, Jay was seen prominently in Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun and N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz and he was a key member of the "Ballets USA" European tour. When that tour ended he returned to New York and to West Side Story, and he understudied the role of Bernardo taking over for ten days in 1960. He then embarked on the second European tour of "Ballets USA", although before doing so married a fellow company member, Gwenn Lewis.

Norman was then cast in the movie version of West Side Story as Pepe, a member of the Sharks and Bernardo's lieutenant. After seven months of filming, he immediately flew out to join the European tour of West Side Story, this time in the role of Bernardo. He was the first male ballet soloist to have the distinction of performing at the White House. When interviewed in 1981, Norman cited the White House performance as his proudest professional moment.

In March 1962, Jay began working with Lee Becker on her new jazz project, which debuted at the First International Jazz Festival in Washington, D.C., and later at the Boston Arts Festival. Norman continued to choreograph for the NJ Ballet until the mid-1980s. By 1989, he was engaged by the Coupe Dance Studios, based in Rockland County, New York and continued with them until the early 1990s.

Personal life Jay Norman married Gwenn Lewis in 1959. By 1990, Gwenn had returned to San Francisco, California without Norman. After leaving Coupe Dance Studios, Norman left New York and moved to Ayden, North Carolina for a time, before moving to Deland, Florida in 2000,

Productions Theatre West Side Story, 1957, Original cast as Juano and 1960 revival as Juano and Bernardo; numerous other revivals Kiss Me, Kate, 1958 Revival Wildcat, 1960 The King and I, 1960 Donnybrook!, 1961 Bajour, 1964 Baker Street, 1965, as Murillo The Apple Tree, 1966, Ensemble, assistant choreographer. Sweet Charity, 1966 Zorba, 1968 Dear World, 1969, Assistant to the choreographer. Purlie, 1970 Ride the Winds, 1974, Choreographer.

Dance focussed productions "Ballets USA", 1958, Jay Norman was part of the ensemble as a dancer. The show featured a collection of ballet pieces choreographed by Jerome Robbins including: N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz Afternoon of a Faun

Television The Arthur Godfrey Show, Âge Tendre et Tête de Bois, French TV show, 1964

Film West Side Story (1961 film) - Pepe, second-in-command of the Sharks