“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.”

    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.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Anita Mann

    Anita Mann on working with Toni Basil, James Brown, and The Rolling Stones on the feature "The T.A.M.I. Show"

    03:57
    Thumbnail of Anita Mann

    Anita Mann on what she learned from Lucille Ball on The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy

    03:20
    Thumbnail of Anita Mann

    Anita Mann on what she looked for when she hired dancers on Solid Gold

    06:37
    Thumbnail of Anita Mann

    Anita Mann on dealing with censorship on Solid Gold, and on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers

    05:35
    Thumbnail of Anita Mann

    Anita Mann on becoming assistant to choreographer Jack Baker

    02:41
    Thumbnail of Anita Mann

    Anita Mann on dancing on Shindig!, and on working with Teri Garr on the show

    03:36
    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

    10:58

    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"

    13:01

    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

    13:49

    On working with Elvis Presley; on becoming assistant to choreographer Jack Baker

    07:22

    On doing choreography for television, and on working for Lucille Ball; on appearing on Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special

    10:28

    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

    10:19

    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

    14:46

    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

    26:30

    On working with Jim Henson on "Sesame Street LIVE!"; on the challenges of working with Jim Henson's Muppets

    11:25

    On working with Jim Henson, and on his death; on choreographing The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show, which co-starred Andy Kaufman as "Tony Clifton"

    11:00

    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

    11:16

    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

    14:14

    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

    13:46

    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

    15:13

    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

    10:34

    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

    04:58

    Academy Awards, The

    Anita Mann on dancing on and choreographing the Academy Awards

    10:00

    Adventures Of Ozzie and Harriet, The

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

    06:32

    Cher

    Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie

    11:56

    Elvis: The '68 Comeback Special aka Singer Presents Elvis

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

    04:52

    Fantastic Miss Piggy Show, The

    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

    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

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

    08:22

    Jane Fonda's Workout Videos

    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

    Anita Mann on choreographing The Legend of Valentino

    06:08

    Lucy Show, The

    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

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

    03:52

    Monkees, The

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

    03:09

    Shindig!

    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

    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

    Advice

    Anita Mann on advice to an aspiring choreographer

    02:39

    Censorship / Standards & Practices

    Anita Mann on dealing with censorship on Solid Gold, and on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers

    05:35

    Civil Rights Movement

    Anita Mann on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers

    04:10

    Emmy Awards

    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

    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

    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

    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

    Anita Mann on witnessing bigotry towards African-American dancers

    04:10

    Women

    Anita Mann on facing discrimination in the industry as a woman

    03:18

    Dancer/Choreographer

    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

    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

    Awards Shows

    Anita Mann on dancing on and choreographing the Academy Awards

    10:00

    Children's Programming

    Anita Mann on working with Jim Henson on various Muppet projects including The Fantastic Miss Piggy Show

    16:15

    Comedy Series

    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

    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

    Anita Mann on choreographing The Legend of Valentino

    06:08

    Lucille Ball

    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

    Anita Mann on working with Sold Gold producers Bob Banner and Brad Lachman

    01:54

    Cher

    Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie

    11:56

    Jane Fonda

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

    06:22

    Teri Garr

    Anita Mann on dancing on Shindig!, and on working with Teri Garr on the show

    03:36

    Jim Henson

    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

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

    08:22

    Brad Lachman

    Anita Mann on working with Sold Gold producers Bob Banner and Brad Lachman

    01:54

    Bob Mackie

    Anita Mann on choreographing Cher, and on working with Cher and Bob Mackie

    11:56

    Elvis Presley

    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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