Hosted by multi-platinum recording artist/choreographer Paula Abdul and director/choreographer Kenny Ortega, the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences presented The Choreographers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, a celebration of the arts of dance and choreography.
The panel featured Barrie Chase (dancer/Fred Astaire’s dance partner), some of the entertainment industry’s most in-demand choreographers including Napoleon & Tabitha D’Umo, Keith Young, Fred Tallaksen, Liz Imperio, and a special surprise guest, “Dancing With The Stars” dancer/choreographer Derek Hough.
The event included an in-depth panel discussion and timeless clips featuring Fred Astaire’s seldom seen performances from his Primetime Emmy Award-winning specials.
Among those in attendance at the TV Academy’s Leonard H. Goldenson Theatre were Academy Award-winning actor George Chakiris of the iconic film West Side Story, Gene Kelly‘s wife Patricia Kelly, and “So You Think You Can Dance” judge/executive producer/creator Nigel Lythgoe.