MICHAEL KIDD

One of Broadway's and film's most distinguished choreographers was born Milton Greenwald in Brooklyn in 1919. An engineering student at New York's City College, he refocused and began studying dance. He made his debut at the age of 18 and soon after joined the American Ballet and the Ballet Caravan. Now renaming himself Michael Kidd, he became a soloist for the American Ballet Theatre in 1942 and appeared as Billy the Kid and Bluebeard, among other legendary figures, while skillfully performing such challenging pieces by the legendary Agnes de Mille and Jerome Robbins. He also began choreographing pieces for himself and the company as well. In the post WWII years, Michael took his talents to Broadway and earned 5 Tony awards for his choreography: Finian's Rainbow (1947), Guys and Dolls (1951), Can-Can (1953), Li'l Abner (1957) and Destry Rides Again (1959). On film, Michael choreographed Where's Charley (1949), The Band Wagon (1953), Star! (1968), Hello, Dolly! (1969), and his pièce de résistance, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954), arguably one of the most robust and dazzling displays of dance Hollywood has ever offered. Very infrequently have Michael's amazing dancing skills been utilized in front of the camera. However, in It's Always Fair Weather (1955), we are finally able to witness his talent while he is partnered with Gene Kelly and Dan Dailey. In one memorable sequence, the trio dance around New York with garbage can lids attached to their feet. In 1975, Michael surprised critics by starring in the cult film Smile (1975), a devilishly wicked satire on beauty pageants. The versatile Michael also directed occasionally for film [Danny Kaye's Merry Andrew (1958)] and TV ("All in the Family," "Laverne and Shirley"). Although he was never nominated for an Oscar for his choreography, this glaring error was partially rectified by the Academy by the presentation of an honorary trophy for his services to the art of filmed dance.