“People enjoy watching dance on television because it’s something most people feel they can’t do themselves. And if it’s a specific star that they like that they see dancing impressively, they love it.”

    About This Interview

    In his hour-and-a-half-hour interview, Kevin Carlisle talks about his early life and attending Juilliard before becoming a dancer on Broadway. He describes first dancing and later becoming a choreographer on The Garry Moore Show, and later choreographing The Dean Martin Show. He recounts his long working relationship with Barry Manilow on his Barry Manilow specials, for which Carlisle won an Emmy Award. He details working as the choreographer for Solid Gold, and covers recruiting the Solid Gold Dancers, the style of dance on the show, and the logistics of putting the show together. Carlisle discusses working on several other variety specials working with various stars including Beatrice Arthur, Doris Day, Carol Burnett, Julie Andrews, and Pee Wee Herman. He speaks of how the industry has changed since he began working, and the then-future of choreography on television. He concludes by sharing pictures from his career. Adrienne Faillace conducted the interview on October 3, 2017 in Corona del Mar, CA.

    All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.
    People Talking About ...
    Thumbnail of Kevin Carlisle

    Kevin Carlisle on being hired to choreograph Solid Gold, and on hiring the Solid Gold Dancers

    03:32
    Thumbnail of Kevin Carlisle

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Doris Day's The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special with Perry Como

    02:13
    Thumbnail of Kevin Carlisle

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Doris Day's The Doris Mary Anne Kappelhoff Special with Perry Como

    02:13
    Thumbnail of Kevin Carlisle

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing The Beatrice Arthur Special

    01:10
    Thumbnail of Kevin Carlisle

    Kevin Carlisle on working with the hosts of Solid Gold and the Solid Gold Dancers

    03:01
    Thumbnail of Kevin Carlisle

    Kevin Carlisle on dancers' footwear

    01:55
    Play Full Interview

    Chapter 1

    On his early life and influences; on attending Juilliard and on early dancing roles on Broadway; on working on The Garry Moore Show

    12:23

    On his process of choreographing dances for television; on a typical work week as choreographer on The Garry Moore Show, and other variety shows; on being a choreographer on The Dean Martin Show, and on the dance styles of the 1960s

    11:38

    On being nominated for a Tony Award for "Hallelujah, Baby!", and on The Kevin Carlisle Three on What's it All About World; on working with Barry Manilow on the Barry Manilow Specials, and on winning an Emmy Award

    08:46

    On being hired to choreograph Solid Gold, and on hiring the Solid Gold Dancers; on the style of dance on Solid Gold, and on his relationships with other choreographers; on Darcel Leonard Wynne, the principle dancer on Solid Gold, and on choreographing numbers around special guests

    10:38

    On a typical work week on Solid Gold, and on the logistics of putting the show together; on working with Solid Gold director Louis J. Horvitz and the rest of the team on the show; on doing different routines to the same songs week after week, and on working with different styles of music

    10:58

    On working with the hosts of Solid Gold and the Solid Gold Dancers; on the legacy of Solid Gold

    04:24

    Chapter 2

    On becoming a director, and on how being a choreographer helped him; on directing the fitness video Do it Debbie's Way with Debbie Reynolds, and on dealing with injuries in his career; on choreographing various specials for Doris Day, Beatrice Arthur, and Pee Wee Herman

    10:29

    On various people he worked with in his career; on traveling internationally for work; on how the industry has changed since he started, and on the then-future of choreography on television

    12:26

    On what he enjoys about choreography, and on what audiences like about dancing on television; on dancers' footwear; on career achievements, regrets, and then-current activities

    05:40

    Chapter 3

    On b-roll photos from is career- at work; on the set of Solid Gold; with President Lyndon B. Johnson; on stage in the air; two photos of him leaping on stage; with Bill Cosby on the set of Cos; with a group who worked on a show with him; receiving an Emmy Award; dancing with Lois Grandi; with Barry Manilow taping his third special; with Dom DeLuise; in an off-off Broadway show; drinking coffee; leaping in the air in the Broadway show "Redhead"; dancing on The Garry Moore Show; Andy Gibb and the Solid Gold dancers; with Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr.; with Pee Wee Herman; two photos on the set of The Mother Daughter Pageant; with Lois Grandi; with Dick Van Patten and Debbie Reynolds; with Melissa Manchester; with some showgirls on a Diet Coke commercial; picture he took of Mae West; a pair of shoes worn by Barry Manilow on stage

    13:04

    Barry Manilow Specials

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Barry Manilow on the Barry Manilow Specials, and on winning an Emmy Award

    06:52

    Beatrice Arthur Special, The

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing The Beatrice Arthur Special

    01:10

    Dean Martin Show, The

    Kevin Carlisle on being a choreographer on The Dean Martin Show, and on the dance styles of the 1960s

    02:34

    Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

    Kevin Carlisle on winning an Emmy for his work on Barry Manilow's TV Specials

    00:37

    Garry Moore Show, The

    Kevin Carlisle on dancing on The Garry Moore Show, and how dancing on television was different from dancing on the stage

    02:27

    Kevin Carlisle on becoming a choreographer on The Garry Moore Show

    02:02

    Kevin Carlisle on a typical work week as choreographer on The Garry Moore Show, and on picking dancers

    03:21

    Kevin Carlisle on working with the guest stars of The Garry Moore Show, and on leaving the show

    02:23

    Julie Andrews Specials

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Julie & Carol: Together Again with Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett

    01:09

    Pee-Wee's Playhouse

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse

    00:54

    Solid Gold

    Kevin Carlisle on being hired to choreograph Solid Gold, and on hiring the Solid Gold Dancers

    03:32

    Kevin Carlisle on the style of dance on Solid Gold, and on his relationships with other choreographers

    01:53

    Kevin Carlisle on Darcel Leonard Wynne, the principle dancer on Solid Gold, and on choreographing numbers around special guests

    05:12

    Kevin Carlisle on a typical work week on Solid Gold, and on the logistics of putting the show together

    05:07

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Solid Gold director Louis J. Horvitz and the rest of the team on the show

    03:03

    Kevin Carlisle on doing different routines to the same songs week after week on Solid Gold, and on working with different styles of music

    02:48

    Kevin Carlisle on working with the hosts of Solid Gold and the Solid Gold Dancers

    03:01

    Kevin Carlisle on the legacy of Solid Gold

    01:23

    Kevin Carlisle on a photo from the production of the original special that led to the series of Solid Gold

    00:31

    What's It All About World

    Kevin Carlisle on being nominated for a Tony Award for "Hallelujah, Baby!", and on The Kevin Carlisle Three on What's it All About World

    01:52

    Emmy Awards

    Kevin Carlisle on winning an Emmy for his work on The 3rd Barry Manilow Special

    00:37

    Television Industry

    Kevin Carlisle on how the industry has changed since he started, and on the then-future of choreography on television

    01:47

    Dancer/Choreographer

    Kevin Carlisle on his process of choreographing dances for television

    03:19

    Kevin Carlisle on what he liked about choreographing variety specials

    00:39

    Kevin Carlisle on traveling internationally to work

    02:06

    Kevin Carlisle on what he enjoys about choreography, and on what audiences like about dancing on television

    02:10

    Kevin Carlisle on dancers' footwear

    01:55

    Kevin Carlisle on advice to an aspiring choreographer

    00:59

    Directors

    Kevin Carlisle on becoming a director, and on how being a choreographer helped him

    01:28

    Performers

    Kevin Carlisle on his process of choreographing dances for television

    03:19

    Kevin Carlisle on what he liked about choreographing variety specials

    00:39

    Kevin Carlisle on traveling internationally for work

    02:06

    Kevin Carlisle on what he enjoys about choreography, and on what audiences like about dancing on television

    02:10

    Kevin Carlisle on dancers' footwear

    01:55

    Kevin Carlisle on advice to an aspiring choreographer

    00:59

    Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

    Kevin Carlisle on working on The Garry Moore Show

    08:43

    Kevin Carlisle on being a choreographer on The Dean Martin Show, and on the dance styles of the 1960s

    04:56

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Barry Manilow on the Barry Manilow Specials

    06:52

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Solid Gold

    26:00

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing various celebrity specials

    05:26

    Julie Andrews

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Julie & Carol: Together Again with Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett

    01:09

    Beatrice Arthur

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing The Beatrice Arthur Special

    01:10

    Carol Burnett

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Julie & Carol: Together Again with Julie Andrews and Carol Burnett

    01:09

    Cher

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Cher

    00:43

    Sandy Duncan

    Kevin Carlisle on directing and being featured in The 5 Minute Workout with Sandy Duncan

    00:40

    Judy Garland

    Kevin Carlisle on Judy Garland

    01:26

    Louis J. Horvitz

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Solid Gold director Louis J. Horvitz and the rest of the team on the show

    03:03

    Rock Hudson

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing The Beatrice Arthur Special, which featured Rock Hudson

    01:10

    Lyndon B. Johnson

    Kevin Carlisle on a photo of him with President Lyndon B. Johnson

    00:33

    Gene Kelly

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Gene Kelly

    01:48

    Jerry Lewis

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Jerry Lewis

    00:24

    Liberace

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Liberace

    01:39

    Barry Manilow

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Barry Manilow on the Barry Manilow Specials

    05:57

    Dean Martin

    Kevin Carlisle on being a choreographer on The Dean Martin Show, and on the dance styles of the 1960s

    04:56

    Garry Moore

    Kevin Carlisle on dancing on The Garry Moore Show

    02:26

    Paul Reubens

    Kevin Carlisle on choreographing Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse

    01:04

    Debbie Reynolds

    Kevin Carlisle on directing the fitness video Do it Debbie's Way with Debbie Reynolds

    00:58

    Barbra Streisand

    Kevin Carlisle on Barbra Streisand

    01:17

    Elizabeth Taylor

    Kevin Carlisle on working with Elizabeth Taylor

    01:08

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