NORM: Jackson dines with choreographer

NORM: Jackson dines with choreographer

Michael Jackson appears to be moving quickly with his comeback plans.

Jackson was spotted Friday dining with Emmy-Award winning director/choreographer Kenny Ortega, who choreographed Jackson's last tour, almost a decade ago.

Jackson, who moved to Las Vegas two weeks ago after 16 months overseas, had dinner with Ortega in a private room at Wynn Las Vegas.

In another development, I learned Saturday that Jackson has reconciled with his parents, Las Vegas residents Joe and Katherine, after a long silence.

Joe Jackson confirmed by telephone on Saturday that "he made contact with me and his mother (Friday)." They had not communicated since Michael moved to Bahrain shortly after being acquitted of child molestation charges in California in May 2005.

The reconciliation is reported to have occurred after Joe and Katherine solicited Jack Wishna, a friend of the pop icon, to reopen the lines of communication.

Still under wraps is where Jackson wants to relaunch his career.

Both Jackson and Ortega have been associated with Steve Wynn, who transformed Siegfried & Roy into international stars with a major production show at The Mirage. Wynn's friendship with Jackson dates back decades. Jackson was often a guest of Wynn's at The Mirage, and there was talk Wynn was bringing Jackson to Las Vegas. Jackson listed Wynn as a character witness in his 2005 trial.

In his 2004 bio, Ortega said he was "overseeing the creation of a production" for Wynn.

Ortega's choreography credits include Madonna's "Material Girl" video, "Dirty Dancing," the opening ceremonies of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and Atlanta Summer Olympics, and world tours with Barbra Streisand, the Pointer Sisters, Cher, Gloria Estefan, Kiss and Diana Ross.

Jackson's comeback album is reported to be due out at the end of the year on the Bahrain-based label Two Seas Records.

Jan. 07, 2007
Las Vegas Review-Journal

anschnallen, leute...es geht loooooos

bissl info über diesen mann - der ja wohl DER HAMMER is...:respekt mit wem der alles gearbeitet hat...:wau

Kenny Ortega
Director/Choreographer
The Key to Success

Acclaimed director/choreographer Kenny Ortega directs the two-hour premiere episode of the new series Fame L.A. As a first generation Hispanic-American raised in California, Kenny is profoundly proud of his heritage. His earliest memories are of his mother and father dancing to hot Cha-Chas and Tangos in their Redwood City living room while outside Flamenco music battled for airspace with Gospel music and the sounds of Motown.

Kenny's gift for dance and music became apparent at an early age earning him scholarships to several San Francisco Bay Area dance academies. He studied Jazz and Tap extensively as well as Flamenco with the legendary Rosa Montoya in San Francisco. At 13, the acting bug infected him and he began to work in local repertory theater. His passion for the stage blossomed while in high school, where he worked in musical productions such as "Oliver" with Georgia Brown.

Kenny enrolled in college in 1968 but soon after was cast as Berger in the San Francisco company of "Hair." After their San Francisco run, he toured with the production for three years then returned to the Bay Area where he continued to study and perform with the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco. At that time he also began a long, fruitful relationship with A&M Records' Multi Media Recording Artists, The Tubes. A new phase in Kenny's career began as he staged, choreographed, and performed for over a decade with the group. It was at a Tubes performance at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles where Cher first met Kenny, leading to a ten-year collaboration, with Kenny directing and choreographing her concert tours and videos.

Kenny's film career began when he assisted Toni Basil choreographing Bette Midler's first feature film, THE ROSE. He next worked with his long-time idol, director/choreographer Gene Kelly, as co-choreographer on the film XANADU, starring Olivia Newton-John. This film project began a deep and lasting relationship with the fabulous Mr. Kelly, who Kenny credits as his greatest influence in the art of choreographing for the camera.

During the years following, Kenny's staging and choreography graced television, concert tours, stage shows, feature films, and many music videos. Pointer Sisters, Bette Midler, KISS, Oingo Boingo, The Miami Sound Machine, and Michael Jackson are a few of the popular music artists who have enjoyed Kenny's work on their concert tours and television specials. Kenny has also choreographed many prestigious award broadcasts including The American Music Awards, The NAACP Image Awards, and the Academy Awards.

As one of the pioneers in music videos, Kenny's choreography has been a crucial element in many of the most innovative, including Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy," Billy Joel's "Allentown, Elton John's "A Word in Spanish," Madonna's "Material Girl," and nearly all of Cher's music videos including "We All Sleep Alone" and "Turn Back Time." Kenny directed and choreographed The Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited," Gloria Estefan's "Comin' Out of the Dark," and The Miami Sound Machine's "The Rhythm is Gonna Get You."

Kenny has been involved in some of the most memorable film choreography of the last few decades. Most recently, Kenny worked with Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes helping them create their drag queen characters in TO WONG FOO-THANKS FOR EVERYTHING-JULIE NEWMAR. Some of his additional film credits include ONE FROM THE HEART (1982), ST. ELMO'S FIRE (1985), PRETTY IN PINK (1986), FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986 -- he also directed the Second Unit), and the 1987 box office smash DIRTY DANCING, for which he was both choreographer and creative consultant.

It was the television series based on the film DIRTY DANCING which afforded Kenny his first opportunity to direct for the small screen. In 1990, Kenny directed the pilot and several episodes of the series "Hull High" on which he additionally served as co-executive producer and choreographer.

In 1991 Kenny Ortega began his feature film directing career with the musical NEWSIES for the Walt Disney Company, followed by HOCUS POCUS in 1993, which starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.

In theatre, Kenny most recently directed and choreographed a piece for The Mark Taper Forum LATINO THEATRE INITIATIVE entitled "Spirits Rising" which was presented at The Anson Ford Theatre in Los Angeles. He was invited to choreograph a new piece for Ballet de Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico in 1997.

Kenny toured with Michael Jackson directing the HISTORY World Tour which played to sold-out crowds in cities throughout the world including Prague, Moscow, and Warsaw. He also produced and staged Michael Jackson's appearance in London for The 1996 Brit Awards telecast. Last year, Kenny joined both creative teams that produced and staged Diana Ross' amazing 1996 Superbowl Halftime Concert, the opening of The World Cup in Chicago, and the 30th Anniversary Superbowl Halftime Show.

Working as Artistic Director in association with Don Mischer Productions, he helped to create and stage the spectacular 1996 Atlanta Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. His concepts and staging thrilled the world with a stellar visual feast at this 100th anniversary celebration.

(fame.la.com)

http://www.mcdonaldselznick.co…new/info/Kenny-Ortega.asp

CHOREOGRAPHER TELEVISION
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL *Emmy Nom. Disney Channel
2004 SUPER BOWL PRE-SHOW/HALF-TIME SHOW Don Mischer Prods. (Producer) 2002 OPENING & CLOSING CEREMONINES Salt Lake City Olympics *Emmy Award/ACA Nom Don Mischer Productions
ABC 50TH ANNIVERSARY Don Mischer Prods. (Chor/Musical Segment Prod)
GROUNDED FOR LIFE *Emmy/ACA Nomination FOX
THE WAY SHE MOVES VH1/Wilshire Court Productions OSCAR de la HOYA/THE TONIGHT SHOW NBC
ACADEMY AWARDS 2000 ABC
WASTELAND CBS/Skipper Inc.
AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS w- Cher/ABC/Dick Clark Prods. CHICAGO HOPE *ACA Award CBS
1996 OLYMPICS *ACA Award Artistic Dir/Chor/Special Staging DIRTY DANCING Vestron/CBS (Series Choreographer)
MICHAEL JACKSON Dangerous HBO (Conceived & Dir. Stage Prod.)
GLORIA ESTEFAN Coming Out Of The Dark HBO (Dir/Chor/Stage Prod.) CHER “Heart Of Stone” HBO (Dir. & Chor. Stage Prod.) AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS 1986-89 Dick Clark Prod./ABC
ACADEMY AWARDS ABC
SMOKEY ROBINSON’ MOTOWN REVIEW NBC / Motown
MICKEY’S 60th BIRTHDAY Disney
TOTALLY MINNIE Disney
AMERICA PICKS THE #1 HIT ABC/Dick Clark Prod.
NOSOTROS AWARDS Syndication 1988
GOOD TIME ROCK N’ ROLL NBC
JUMP NBC 2 episodes

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CONCERT TOURS
BARBRA STREISAND TIMELESS - 1999 Las Vegas/2000 Australia
SHAKIRA 1998 Tour (Chor)
PAM TILLIS 1998 US Tour (Dir/Chor)
MICHAEL JACKSON “HIStory” 1996-97 (Conceived/Dir/Chor)
LORRIE MORGAN 1994-98 US Tours (Dir/Chor)
MINDY McCRADY US Tour 1997
DREAMS COME TRUE Japan (Dir/Chor)
MICHAEL JACKSON “Dangerous” 1992-93 (Conceived/Dir)
CHER “Heart Of Stone” 1989-90 (Conceived/Dir)
GLORIA ESTEFAN & M.S.M. 1987-88 (Dir/Chor)
GLORIA ESTEFAN 1991 (Consultant)
POINTER SISTERS 1986-89 Tours
CHAKA KHAN 1988-89 World Tour (Dir/Chor) DIANA ROSS TOUR 1988
HERB ALPERT 1989 Summer Symphony
BETTE MIDLER Special material (Chor)
OINGO BOINGO 1986-87 US Tours (Dir/Chor)
OLIVIA NEWTON-JOHN 1981 World Tour (Dir/Chor) KISS 1980 World Tour (Dir/Chor)
THE TUBES 1975-85 World Tours (Dir/Chor)


(ein kleiner auszug seiner arbeit,
wo auch michael ein teil von is...:) )

hm... die bereden wohl, wie die las vegas show aussehen wird...

Zitat von Screamlouder

Der Typ choreografiert aber schon lange keine Videos mehr.;D Wer sich mit dem trifft, will ein gigantisches Live-Spektakel......:kicher Yoah das sieht doch alles nach Business aus!:top

naja... wer solche "filme" macht,
http://www.amazon.com/gp/produ…p_i_1/102-3583707-5098541
dürfte auch keine probleme mit nem coolen videoclip haben...:D
und das war ende nov. '06

btw... es gab da nen andern grossen regisseur, der sich auch net "zu schade" war für nen video von michael....:Q