Home ยป Arts & Culture
Arts & Culture
Choreography Media Honors:
Appreciating the Artists behind the Art of Dance
By Mona Loring
No one would argue that dance in all areas of entertainment has never been more popular. The musical has made a total comeback with blockbusters like "Hairspray," "Chicago," "Step Up," and the smaller but critically-acclaimed film "Across the Universe." On TV, ABC's Dancing with the Stars, Fox's So You Think You Can Dance and Bravo's Step It Up have brought in enormous ratings while commercials are also packed with more and more music and dancing. It is about time people shifted their attention to true artistry that tends to go on the backburner in the entertainment industry. Now, it is true that dance-and its dancers are gaining more and more attention, but what about the choreographers?
Choreographers are the artists behind the masterpiece that unfortunately never get their chance to shine in the spotlight. Their great ability to express emotion and ideals through dance inspires its audience and fills in a much needed void. Just like any other artist, a composer or painter, the choreographer pushes the envelope and breaks modern barriers to expand the world's outlook on what dance really can be.
On Friday, June 13, 2008, choreographers will get their much-deserved recognition at The 2nd Annual Choreography Media Honors (CMH). The Choreography Media Honors proudly returns to the Director's Guild of America to celebrate and honor outstanding achievements in choreography for the camera. Presented in conjunction with the 7th Annual 2008 Dance Camera West Media Film Festival, a highly lauded Los Angeles month long festival devoted to the merging of choreography and cinema, the Choreography Media Honors will present the honored work at their gala screening event at the prestigious Director's Guild of America in Hollywood.
The Choreography Media Honors is a special event that pays a necessary tribute to the art and craft of dance in film, television, commercials, and video. The CMH is proud to call attention to the official 2008 honorees who have displayed exemplary talent and technique in this year's past work. A few of special guests that will be honored at the event are: Daniel Ezralow for "Across The Universe," Anwar "Flii" Burton for Chris Brown's "Kiss Kiss," Mia Michaels for So You Think You Can Dance, "The Moment I Said It" and many other well accomplished professionals such as Rob Marshall and John Deluca for The
2008 Emmy Awards: "Steppin' Out," Lance Macdonald for Scrubs, "My Musical," Adam Shankman for "Hair-spray," and Fatima Robinson for "Movies Rock!"
The CMH special screening will be preceded by a VIP party with special guests from the casts of "So You Think You Can Dance" and "Dancing with the Stars." Then, after the screening a reception for all in attendance will immediately follow.
In addition to the festivities, a special panel discussion regarding the art of collaboration between directors and choreographers will be presented on Saturday, June 14, 2008 (exact time and location still TBA).
Last year's Choreography Media Honors event hosted by Paula Abdul, Kenny Ortega, Carrie Ann Inaba, and Adam Shankman was a resounding success attended by the entertainment industry's premier dancers, choreographers, producers, and directors. This year's CMH hosts will major celebrities from the world of dance, with plans to be equally, if not more exciting for all.