Rob Ashford to Choreograph the Oscars

[E.Davis]

NO!

[Wilmingtom]

Choreograph what? The opening number? It's not a heavy dance show.

[henrikegerman]

Looking forward to the Cloud Atlas ballet.

[egghumor]

Eek!!

[E.Davis]

I am just tired of his same rehashed choreography. Yes there is a such thing as them having a style, but when I can tell that half of the dance break from the opening number from the TONY awards was lifted straight from curtains. I am bored.

I am not saying that he isn't a good choreographer I am just tired of his award so rehashes.

[EricMontreal22]

I assume we will get more Michael Bennett circa Hallabaloo 1960s jazz dancing like we got at the Kennedy Awards last year...

[E.Davis]

My point exactly.

[SondheimFan5]

Interesting choice.
Can MacFarlane even dance? He is charismatic, funny, and very talented, but he's always been a little wooden IMHO.

[best12bars]

Oscar statuettes split-leaping and pencil-turning five hundred times to ... it doesn't really matter what music or song or theme, because it would still be the same steps.

[EricMontreal22]

No matter how ill suited to the music it is... I do think Rob has talent as a choreographer--the jail tap dance in Cry Baby was excellent I thought, at least on the Tonys and I think some of Evita is very good, but he seems stuck in this 60s jazz rutt.

The male dancers for the Barbara Cook tribute at the Kennedy Honours just make me dance--it's like every jazz dance cliche used over and over. The men actually look lost because of how some of it is staged (I'm sure the filming doesn't help, but...)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0aV-gXIMCg

[wonkit]

Fearless prediction: the Oscars will continue to be the low point for choreographic excellence.

[evic]

Get ready for high side kicks exposing the dancers' crotches and panties.

[jv92]

I'm SO tired of him. Rewatching the FOSSE DVD the other day (despite what one may think of the production) reminded me of how GOOD and REFRESHING theater choreography can be-- used to be. Oh, and RESTRAINED! Ashford must send all of his dancers to the chiropractor daily. He is a too-busy show-off.

I know we're not all fans of NEWSIES' choreography (or the show itself), but I think Gattelli uses "acrobatics" in a far more refreshing and restrained way. Ashford gives it all away in the first minute of a number. (And there were no leaping sailors doing splits in Gattelli's work on SOUTH PACIFIC, either.)