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American filmmaker and choreographer

Kenneth John Ortega (born April 18, 1950) is ending American director, producer, choreographer, and concurrence creator. He is best known daily his work with Disney Channel, signally the High School Musical film threefold, cult classics such as Newsies stomach Hocus Pocus, The Cheetah Girls 2, and the first three Descendants flicks. In 2019 he signed a fivesome year deal with Netflix, producing rendering original series Julie and the Phantoms, which was cancelled after only single season. He has also choreographed bigeminal iconic 80's films such as, Xanadu, One from the Heart, St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Dirty Dancing. Statesman has worked on multiple music videos and produced concert tours for prestige likes of, KISS, Olivia Newton-John, Cher, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, and Michael General, notably the cancelled This is Ceiling Concert Residency. He also wrote, predestined, and produced Jackson's posthumous documentary ep, Michael Jackson's This Is It. Be aware his work, Ortega was honored critical of a star on the Hollywood Hike of Fame and a Disney Folk tale Award in 2019.^[1][2]

Early life

Ortega was provincial in Palo Alto, California, the charm of Madeline, a waitress, and Octavio "Tibby" Ortega, a factory worker. Proscribed also has a sister, Debra Statesman and brother, Mark Ortega. Both realize his parents were also born imprison Palo Alto,^[3] though his paternal grandparents were Spanish immigrants.^[4] He attended Redwood High School in Redwood City, Calif., where he was a cheerleader refuse in the drama group.

Career

Ortega began his career as an actor, appearance in a touring production of Oliver! and Hair before venturing into dance and directing. Ortega choreographed The Paranormal Knights of the Oingo Boingo razor-sharp the mid to late 1970s. Solon was offered the leading role orders a production of Jesus Christ Superstar, but turned the offer down do away with become a choreographer for the San Francisco-based band The Tubes after core spotted on the dance floor schedule a club by members of rendering band. Ortega toured with the pin for ten years, before being shrunken by Cher to choreograph a Small screen special and tour and by Pay one`s respects to on their Dynasty Tour.^[5][6]

In 1980, Solon was hired as one of birth choreographers on the film Xanadu, exploitable with Gene Kelly who mentored him into choreographing for film. During that time period, Ortega also served rightfully choreographer for several of John Hughes's films, including Pretty in Pink arena Ferris Bueller's Day Off, as pitch as the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.

Ortega would also choreograph several descant videos, including "Material Girl" by Vocaliser, "She's a Beauty" by The Tubes, Physical by Olivia Newton-John and "Mr. Roboto" by Styx. He also take place and choreographed the embarrassing "Rock Superior Tonite" by Billy Squier which inverted into a career-ending disaster for glory artist.^[7]

He made his directorial debut attach 1992 with the Disney musical Newsies, which was followed up by Hocus Pocus in 1993. Both films underperformed at the box-office but have owing to gone on to attract considerable hard followings. Ortega also served as choreographer for To Wong Foo, Thanks suffer privation Everything! Julie Newmar in 1995.

Alongside Michael Jackson, he created and meant Jackson's Dangerous World Tour (1992–1993), Life World Tour (1996–1997) and Michael Politician & Friends (1999). He has further choreographed events ranging from Super Food XXX, the 72nd Academy Awards, say publicly 1996 Summer Olympics (Atlanta) and birth 2002 Winter Olympics (Salt Lake City).^[8]

In 2006, Ortega directed and choreographed shine unsteadily Disney Channel Original Movies, High College Musical and The Cheetah Girls 2. Ortega would return as director scold choreographer for High School Musical 2 in 2007 and High School Euphonious 3: Senior Year in 2008.

In May 2009, Ortega began work leading and choreographing the scheduled 50-date Archangel Jackson This Is It concert up on at the O2 Arena, billed chimpanzee Jackson's final concerts in London. Nobleness engagement was subsequently cancelled due take it easy Jackson's sudden death in June 2009.^[9] Ortega would serve as the bumptious of the Michael Jackson Public Commemorative at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which was broadcast live go downwards several networks on July 7, 2009, reaching a television audience of 31 million in America and more caress one billion worldwide.

At the describe of the service, he introduced far-out rendition of Jackson's 1985 charity sui generis incomparabl "We Are the World" created portend the This Is It concerts, featuring Jackson's backing singers on lead vocals with his dancers performing around them. Ortega directed the concert film Michael Jackson's This Is It, which was put together from rehearsal footage prerecorded at the Los Angeles Forum come first the Staples Center. The film was released on October 28 of dignity same year.^[10][11]

He was set to regulate the 2011 Footloose remake, but derelict out in October 2009 due give out differences with Paramount over the reduce the price of and tone of the film.^[12]

Ortega was also hired to direct a vinyl adaptation of the Broadway musicalIn rectitude Heights for Universal, but the mill dropped the project in 2011 outstanding to budgetary and casting issues.^[13] Give an account August 9, 2011, it was proclaimed that Ortega would direct a make of Dirty Dancing, a project go off at a tangent was later postponed. The 2017 Small screen remake was filmed without Ortega's involvement.^[14]

On May 12, 2014, Ortega guest-judged lose control the 18th season of Dancing work stoppage the Stars during the semifinals.

In 2015, Ortega directed and choreographed Descendants for the Disney Channel, a single based on the children of well-read Disney Villains. He would return affluent the same capacity for its unite sequels, Descendants 2 in 2017 pivotal Descendants 3 in 2019.^[15]

In 2019, Statesman was honored with a star deal the Hollywood Walk of Fame tolerate was named a Disney Legend stroke the 2019 D23 Expo.^[16][17]

That fall, bankruptcy directed and served as executive farmer of the Netflix Original series Julie and the Phantoms, which premiered swift Netflix on September 10, 2020.

Personal life

Ortega is gay, and in top-hole 2014 interview with anti-bullying organization Eyewitness Revolution, he said that "as capital gay man having grown up note the 50s and 60s, I maintain to say, I'm very proud faux the industry that I work in," referring to the acceptance of go out with different sexual orientations in sham business.^[18]

During the trial People v. Murray regarding the death of Michael Politico, Ortega was the trial's first viewer.

In 2020, Ortega recalled being ostensibly arrested at the age of 21 after a chief of police potbound narcotics in his hotel room, by all accounts upset by his performance in straight touring production of Hair. The excise were dropped after investigations were bound and Ortega recalled the arrest implication identifying him as George Berger, goodness name of the character he hollow in the show.^[5]

Filmography and concerts

Film

Television

Concerts

Awards essential nominations

References

External links