Celebrating the Legacy of Choreographer Michael Kidd
Explore the life and work of choreographer Michael Kidd, from his humble beginnings as a ballet student to his groundbreaking choreography in films like "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." Discover his unique style of incorporating everyday gestures into dynamic dance moves and how he brought characters to life through his iconic routines. Learn about some entertaining truths behind his work with legends like Fred Astaire and Julie Andrews, showcasing his passion for dance and dedication to perfection. Dive into the world of Michael Kidd and his lasting impact on the art of dance.
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Presentation Transcript
Kidd was born August 12, 1915, his parents were refugees from Czarist Russia. He was born as Milton Greenwald in Manhattan, New York. He moved to Brooklyn, attended New Urecht High School, and studied ballet under Blanche Evan. He went on to study chemical engineering at City College. However, he was granted a scholarship to the School of American Ballet and left the City College to pursue his dream. From 1942 to 1947 he was a soloist with Ballet Theater (now calledAmerican Ballet Theater) and in 1945, the company gave him the opportunity to create his own ballet, On Stage! . He married dancer Mary Heater in 1945, had two daughters, and later divorced. He again married in 1969, this time to Shelah Hackett, they had one son and one daughter, and remained married for life. At age 92 he died of cancer on December 23,2007.
Inducted into theAmerican Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981 Received an honoraryAcademy Award in 1997 "in recognition of his services to the art of dance in the art of the screen"
His style of choreography incorporates everyday gestures with dynamic moves, emphasizing and differentiating characters through dance. Most if not all gestures are integral to the plot. According to The New York Times, Anna Kisselgoff, the former chief dance critic of said Times, wrote that Mr. Kidd s signature was characterization through energy, epitomized by a lovesick male clan going courting with an acrobatic challenge dance in Seven Brides. This video is a great display of Kidd's ability to make a dance out of practically any activity, like courtship, woodcutting, or arm wrestling, for example.
A FEW ENTERTAINING TRUTHS In the film The Band Wagon (music and lyrics by Howard Dietz andArthur Schwartz), Kidd was hired to stage the film's dances at Astaire's request, because he was nervous about the ballet. Kidd said that he made Astaire comfortable by pretending that he was just making up the steps spontaneously. Nanette Fabray, a performer in Love Life (choreographed by Michael Kidd),could only make dancing turns to the left side because of a hearing problem. Instead of urging Fabray to turn right regardless, as other choreographers have, Kidd was intrigued by this and had every other dancer turn to the left as well. The "Burlington Bertie From Bow" number from Star! was physically demanding, as recalled by Julie Andrews, and she was stunned when Kidd wanted a retake, saying she had a bad back. Andrews recalled that "he looked crestfallen. Then he said, 'I wasn't trying to be mean. I just knew that when you saw it on film, you wouldn't be pleased.' I always thought that was a nice way to say, 'Once more.'" An obituary on Dec. 25 2007 about the choreographer Michael Kidd misstated his given name at birth and his birthplace as Michael Greenwald, and Brooklyn.
(sources.) bluh, bluh. Michael Kidd. Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 26 Apr. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Kidd#Awards. bluh, bluh. Michael Kidd: Theatre and Film Choreographer. The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 18 Sept. 2011, www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/michael-kidd-theatre-and-film- choreographer-767281.html. Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. Michael Kidd. Encyclop dia Britannica, Encyclop dia Britannica, Inc., 12 Mar. 2019, www.britannica.com/biography/Michael- Kidd. Editors, TheFamousPeople.com. Who Was Michael Kidd? Everything You Need to Know. Childhood, Life Achievements & Timeline, 2 Nov. 2017, www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/michael-kidd-5473.php. Tobias, Patricia Eliot. Michael Kidd, Choreographer, Is Dead. The New York Times, The New York Times, 25 Dec. 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/12/25/arts/dance/25kidd.html.
