Anita Mann

Choreographer


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In her three-and-a-half-hour interview, Anita Mann talks about her early years and her favorite dancers growing up. She speaks of appearing as a dancer in the feature films Bye Bye Birdie and The T.A.M.I. Show, where she worked with James Brown and met fellow dancer Toni Basil. She speaks of dancing on the ABC series Shindig!, and of working with Elvis Presley on several projects, including Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special. She recalls dancing with Davy Jones on The Monkees, and working as the assistant choreographer on The Lucy Show and Here’s Lucy with Lucille Ball. Mann discusses dancing for and choreographing the Academy Awards, and choreographing Cher’s solo variety show Cher. She speaks of working on several projects with Jim Henson, including The Fantastic Miss Piggy. She details her time as choreographer on Solid Gold, including what she looked for in a dancer on the show, the process of creating dance steps for the show and keeping them fresh, and being nominated for two Emmys for her work. She concludes with a discussion on how the business has changed since she started, and by giving advice to aspiring choreographers. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on April 5, 2018 in Santa Monica, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

“My passion was television choreography, that’s what I wanted to do. That was always where my wheelhouse was, that’s where I lived. That’s what I love doing. Dancers are one paycheck from homeless, but we don’t care. That’s how we survive.”

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Anita Mann on working with Toni Basil, James Brown, and The Rolling Stones on the feature "The T.A.M.I. Show"
03:57
Anita Mann on what she learned from Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy
03:20
Anita Mann on what she looked for when she hired dancers on Solid Gold
06:37
Anita Mann on dealing with censorship on Solid Gold, and on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers
05:35
Anita Mann on becoming assistant to choreographer Jack Baker
02:41
Anita Mann on dancing on Shindig!, and on working with Teri Garr on the show
03:36
Full Interview

Play Full Interview

Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on dance styles she learned when she first started dancing, and on television shows she watched when growing up; on her favorite style of dance and her favorite dancers growing up
On appearing in the feature film version of "Bye Bye Birdie"; on appearing as a dancer in "The T.A.M.I. Show"; on working with Toni Basil, James Brown, and The Rolling Stones on "The T.A.M.I. Show"
On dancing on Shindig!, and on working with Teri Garr on the show; on the dances on Shindig!, and on the artists who appeared on the show; on appearing on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and on her acting career
On working with Elvis Presley; on becoming assistant to choreographer Jack Baker
On doing choreography for television, and on working for Lucille Ball; on appearing on Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special

Chapter 2

On appearing on The Monkees, and on dancing with Davy Jones; on working as assistant choreographer on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball; on her duties as an assistant choreographer
On what she learned from Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy; on various numbers she worked on on Here's Lucy; on dancing on and choreographing the Academy Awards
On choreographing The Legend of Valentino; on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie; on choreographing The Jacksons and on working with the Jackson family, including Michael Jackson
On working with Jim Henson on "Sesame Street LIVE!"; on the challenges of working with Jim Henson's Muppets
On working with Jim Henson, and on his death; on choreographing The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show, which co-starred Andy Kaufman as "Tony Clifton"

Chapter 3

On becoming involved with Solid Gold; on working with Sold Gold producers Bob Banner and Brad Lachman; on a typical work week choreographing Solid Gold, and on working with the hosts
On what she looked for when she hired dancers on Solid Gold; on the process of working with the Solid Gold Dancers; on keeping the "Solid Gold countdown" fresh, and on the challenge of the range of music
On dealing with censorship on Solid Gold, and on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers; on being nominated for two Emmys for Solid Gold; on the legacy of Solid Gold, and comparing it to other music shows like American Bandstand and Shindig
On her process of choreographing a dance number for television, and on choreographing the Miss America Pageant for which she won an Emmy award; on directing various projects, including Jane Fonda's Lower Body Solution, and on choreography being her first love; on how choreography on television has changed since she started

Chapter 4

On how choreography on television has changed since she first started; on facing discrimination in the industry as a woman; on her proudest career achievement and biggest career regrets
On advice to an aspiring choreographer; on how she would like to be remembered and B-roll pictures including the Solid Gold Dancers and "The Great Muppet Caper" poster
Shows

Academy Awards, The

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Anita Mann on dancing on and choreographing the Academy Awards
10:00

Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet, The

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Anita Mann on appearing on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and on her acting career
06:32

Cher

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Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie
11:56

Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special aka Singer Presents Elvis

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Anita Mann on appearing on Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
04:52

Fantastic Miss Piggy Show, The

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Anita Mann on choreographing The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show, which co-starred Andy Kaufman as "Tony Clifton" and John Ritter
03:13

Here's Lucy

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Anita Mann on working as assistant choreographer on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball
02:25
Anita Mann on what she learned from Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy
03:20
Anita Mann on various numbers she worked on on Here's Lucy
01:25

Jacksons, The

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Anita Mann on choreographing The Jacksons and on working with the Jackson family, including Michael Jackson
08:22

Jane Fonda's Workout Videos

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Anita Mann on directing various projects, including Jane Fonda's Lower Body Solution, and on choreography being her first love
06:22

Legend of Valentino, The

View Show Page
Anita Mann on choreographing The Legend of Valentino
06:08

Lucy Show, The

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Anita Mann on working as assistant choreographer on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball
02:25
Anita Mann on working with Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy
03:20

Miss America Pageant

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Anita Mann on choreographing the Miss America Pageant for which she won an Emmy
03:52

Monkees, The

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Anita Mann on appearing on The Monkees, and on dancing with Davy Jones
03:09

Shindig

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Anita Mann on dancing on Shindig!, and on working with Teri Garr on the show
03:36
Anita Mann on the dances on Shindig!, and on the artists who appeared on the show
03:41

Solid Gold

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Anita Mann on becoming involved with Solid Gold in the middle of its second season
03:13
Anita Mann on working with Sold Gold producers Bob Banner and Brad Lachman
01:54
Anita Mann on a typical workweek choreographing Solid Gold, and on working with the hosts
06:08
Anita Mann on what she looked for when she hired dancers on Solid Gold
06:37
Anita Mann on the process of working with the Solid Gold Dancers
02:50
Anita Mann on keeping the "Solid Gold countdown" fresh, and on the challenge of the range of music
04:47
Anita Mann on dealing with censorship on Solid Gold, and on dealing with bigotry towards African-American dancers
05:35
Anita Mann on being nominated for two Emmys for Solid Gold
02:44
Anita Mann on the legacy of Solid Gold, and comparing it to other music shows like American Bandstand and Shindig!
05:27
Topics

Advice

View Topic
Anita Mann on advice to an aspiring choreographer
02:39

Censorship / Standards & Practices

View Topic
Anita Mann on dealing with censorship on Solid Gold, and on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers
05:35

Civil Rights Movement

View Topic
Anita Mann on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers
04:10

Emmy Awards

View Topic
Anita Mann on being nominated for two Emmys for Solid Gold
02:44
Anita Mann on choreographing the Miss America Pageant for which she won an Emmy
03:52

Historic Events and Social Change

View Topic
Anita Mann on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers
04:10
Anita Mann on facing discrimination in the industry as a woman
03:18

Representation on Television

View Topic
Anita Mann on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers
04:10
Anita Mann on facing discrimination in the industry as a woman
03:18

Television Industry

View Topic
Anita Mann on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers
04:10
Anita Mann on how choreography on television has changed since she started
00:56
Anita Mann on advice to an aspiring choreographer
02:39

Underrepresented Voices

View Topic
Anita Mann on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers
04:10

Women

View Topic
Anita Mann on facing discrimination in the industry as a woman
03:18
Professions

Dancer/Choreographer

View Profession
Anita Mann on doing choreography for television, and what she learned from working for Lucille Ball
05:36
Anita Mann on her duties as an assistant choreographer
04:45
Anita Mann on her process of choreographing a number for television, and on choreographing the Miss America Pageant for which she won an Emmy
07:52
Anita Mann on how choreography on television has changed since she started
00:59
Anita Mann on what she looked for when she hired dancers on Solid Gold
06:37
Anita Mann on how choreography on television has changed since she first started
02:15
Anita Mann on what she enjoys about choreography
01:57
Anita Mann on advice to an aspiring choreographer
02:39

Performers

View Profession
Anita Mann on doing choreography for television, and what she learned from working for Lucille Ball
05:36
Anita Mann on her duties as an assistant choreographer
04:45
Anita Mann on her process of choreographing a number for television, and on choreographing the Miss America Pageant for which she won an Emmy
07:52
Anita Mann on how choreography on television has changed since she started
00:59
Anita Mann on what she looked for when she hired dancers on Solid Gold
06:37
Anita Mann on how choreography on television has changed since she first started
02:15
Anita Mann on what she enjoys about choreography
01:57
Anita Mann on advice to an aspiring choreographer
02:39
Genres

Awards Shows

View Genre
Anita Mann on dancing on and choreographing the Academy Awards
10:00

Children's Programming

View Genre
Anita Mann on working with Jim Henson on various Muppet projects including The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
16:15

Comedy Series

View Genre
Anita Mann on appearing on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and on her acting career
06:32
Anita Mann on appearing on The Monkees, and on dancing with Davy Jones
03:09
Anita Mann on working as assistant choreographer on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball
11:56

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

View Genre
Anita Mann on appearing as a dancer on "The T.A.M.I. Show"
10:39
Anita Mann on dancing on Shindig!
07:17
Anita Mann on appearing on Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
04:52
Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie
11:56
Anita Mann on choreographing The Jacksons and on working with the Jackson family, including Michael Jackson
08:22
Anita Mann on working with Jim Henson on various Muppet projects including The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show
16:15
Anita Mann on choreographing Solid Gold
39:16
Anita Mann on choreographing the Miss America Pageant for which she won an Emmy
03:52

TV Movies/Miniseries/Dramatic Specials

View Genre
Anita Mann on choreographing The Legend of Valentino
06:08
People

Lucille Ball

View Person Page
Anita Mann on doing choreography for television, and on working for Lucille Ball
03:58
Anita Mann on working as assistant choreographer on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy with Lucille Ball
11:56

Bob Banner

View Interview Page
Anita Mann on working with Sold Gold producers Bob Banner and Brad Lachman
01:54

Cher

View Person Page
Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie
11:56

Jane Fonda

View Person Page
Anita Mann on directing various projects, including Jane Fonda's Lower Body Solution, and on choreography being her first love
06:22

Teri Garr

View Person Page
Anita Mann on dancing on Shindig!, and on working with Teri Garr on the show
03:36

Jim Henson

View Person Page
Anita Mann on working with Jim Henson on various Muppet projects, and on "Sesame Street LIVE!"
06:10
Anita Mann on the challenges of working with Jim Henson's Muppets
05:15
Anita Mann on working with Jim Henson, and on his death
07:47

Michael Jackson

View Person Page
Anita Mann on choreographing The Jacksons and on working with the Jackson family, including Michael Jackson
08:22

Brad Lachman

View Person Page
Anita Mann on working with Sold Gold producers Bob Banner and Brad Lachman
01:54

Bob Mackie

View Interview Page
Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie
11:56

Elvis Presley

View Person Page
Anita Mann on working with Elvis Presley
04:38
Anita Mann on appearing on Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special
04:52

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