Michael Jackson's Choreographer on THIS IS IT: 'Working on This Show, was Invigorating' For Jackson

Michael Jackson's longtime choreographer, Kenny Ortega, puts speculation to rest that the pop star's untimely death this summer was aided by poor nutrition and a general lack of attention to his health in the wake of preparing for his THIS IS IT latest comeback tour in an interview with USA Today.

In the report he says plainly, "I can tell you this experience, working on this show, was invigorating, was nourishing. ... (it) wasn't taking away from Michael,"

While Ortega, who collaborated with Jackson on Dangerous and HIstory world tours, acknowledges that many on the production team were concerned about Jackson's heath and diligently checked in on his eating habits and sleep patterns, Ortega believes that in fact the tour was breathing new life into the star.  

Ortega is directing the THIS IS IT DVD of the would-be tour that will be released on October 26.

He further comments: "From the very beginning Michael was very vocal, and very upfront about what he wanted to do and why he wanted to do it. That's what This Is It, Michael Jackson's This Is It the film, is about - it's a privileged peak into the final creative process of Michael's last theatrical work."

To read the full report in USA Today, click here.

Jackson died on June 25 at 50. His death has been ruled a homicide, caused by the wrongful use of the anesthetic propofol and another sedative. Jackson's personal physician, Dr. Conrad Murray, who administered the propofol, is the subject of the police investigation.

Sony Music Entertainment's Columbia/Epic Label Group will release the two-disc album This Is It featuring the music that inspired Sony Pictures' forthcoming film Michael Jackson's THIS IS IT. This two-disc album will be available internationally on October 26th and North America on October 27th to coincide with the worldwide release of the motion picture which arrives in theaters on October 28th and runs for a limited two-week engagement.

The two-disc This is It is a stand-alone companion to the motion picture and includes a 36-page, commemorative booklet featuring exclusive photos of Michael from his last rehearsal.

The motion picture Michael Jackson'S THIS IS IT will offer Jackson fans and music lovers worldwide a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the performer as he developed, created and rehearsed for his sold-out concerts that would have taken place beginning this summer in London's O2 Arena. Chronicling the months from April through June, 2009, the film is produced with the full support of the Estate of Michael Jackson and drawn from more than one hundred hours of behind-the-scenes footage, featuring Jackson rehearsing a number of his songs for the show. Audiences will be given a chance to discover the man they never knew through this privileged and private look at Jackson. In raw and candid detail, Michael Jackson'S THIS IS IT captures the singer, dancer, filmmaker, architect, creative genius and great artist at work as he creates and perfects his final show.

Kenny Ortega, who was both Michael Jackson's creative partner and the director of the stage show is also directing the film, which is being produced by RAndy Phillips, Kenny Ortega and Paul Gongaware. Executive producers are John Branca and John McClain. The film will be distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Releasing.

For more information about the motion picture, please visit the website www.thisisit-movie.com.