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Kenny Ortega

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Kenny Ortega
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Kenny Ortega

Kenny Ortega was born on April 18, 1950. He is quite a big name in Hollywood, having worked with many A-list stars in the thirty he has been a chorographer. He has choreographed for music videos, concert tours, and full length films. His wide varieties of styles and abilities have made him vary successful, even from a young age.
Kenny Ortega started involving himself in the arts at thirteen, acting in various plays and musicals, such as Oliver, throughout his childhood he continued to better himself and increase his skills. Later, in his local town he began working with bands and directing small productions. It was while handling a band, Tubes, that Cher discovered him, and offered him the challenge of creating and choreographing a full scale tour for her. Hollywood would never be the same.
Ortega’s Most Famous achievements are of his film choreography. Ortega was the mastermind behind the academy award winning film, Dirty Dancing. Dirty Dancing was a low budget film that launched the careers of Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. Dirty Dancing has become a franchise with Broadway productions, Television series, and a possible remake scheduled to begin production in late 2010. Perhaps the most powerful partnership is that of Kenny Ortega and Michael Jackson. While Michael Jackson is a notary choreographer, Kenny had the ultimate say. Ortega made stage adjustments, dance modifications, and worked tirelessly to put together a perfectly structured concert. Ortega’s ambitions carried him through four full length world tours! Ortega loved the challenge of choreographing for a live audience who has one point of view, and Directing for a film audience that can see the dancers at many heights and angles. His play with lights, and filming styles piece together a very enjoyable work of art! This was a great struggle, as Ortega choreographed for Michael’s “This is it tour”, and then had to alter the footage to put together a film of what

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