Choreographer Michael Kidd Dies

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Choreographer Michael Kidd Dies

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Choreographer Michael Kidd, whose athletic dances for ballet, Broadway and Hollywood delighted audiences for half a century and won him five Tonys and an Oscar, has died.

Kidd's nephew, Robert Greenwald, told The New York Times that Kidd died at his Los Angeles home Sunday night of cancer. Kidd's age is often listed as 88, but Greenwald told the Times that his uncle was actually 92.

To moviegoers, Kidd was best known for the 1954 film "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," in which a bunch of earthy backwoodsmen prance exuberantly with their prospective brides.

He also directed dances for Danny Kaye in "Knock on Wood," took Fred Astaire out of his top hat to play a private eye in a Mickey Spillane spoof in "The Band Wagon," and taught Marlon Brando how to hoof for "Guys and Dolls."

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[xchrom]

1. peace be with his family.

he was one of my favs.

[CBHagman]

2. If you want to see some of his choreography...

...check out this link to a video of the famous barn-raising dance from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Stay with it; you won't see the full effect unless you view the whole sequence. It gets points for creative use of sawhorses, axes, a roof, and a well!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCdiWxzw0RU

Better yet, buy yourself the two-disc DVD set of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, in which you'll hear discussion from Kidd and dancers such as Tommy Rall and Jacques D'Amboise.

[Happyhippychick]

4. Thank you. I just spent a half hour on You Tube watching amazing

Gene Kelly. He is/was the absolute best.

[joeybee12]

3. RIP...

...an amazing talent.