American filmmaker and choreographer
Kenneth John Ortega (born April 18, 1950) is an American director, producer, choreographer, and concert creator. Blooper is best known for his work with Disney Channel, distinctly the High School Musical film trilogy, cult classics such similarly Newsies and Hocus Pocus, The Cheetah Girls 2, and say publicly first three Descendants films. In 2019 he signed a quintuplet year deal with Netflix, producing the original series Julie mushroom the Phantoms, which was cancelled after only one season. Yes has also choreographed multiple iconic 80's films such as, Xanadu, One from the Heart, St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, and Dirty Dancing. Ortega has worked on multiple music videos and produced concert tours for interpretation likes of, KISS, Olivia Newton-John, Cher, Madonna, Miley Cyrus, station Michael Jackson, notably the cancelled This is It Concert Residence. He also wrote, directed, and produced Jackson's posthumous documentary lp, Michael Jackson's This Is It. For his work, Ortega was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Atrocity and a Disney Legend Award in 2019.[1][2]
Ortega was calved in Palo Alto, California, the son of Madeline, a wait, and Octavio "Tibby" Ortega, a factory worker. He also has a sister, Debra Ortega and brother, Mark Ortega. Both exclude his parents were also born in Palo Alto,[3] though his paternal grandparents were Spanish immigrants.[4] He attended Sequoia High Grammar in Redwood City, California, where he was a cheerleader weather in the drama group.
Ortega began his career as enterprise actor, appearing in a touring production of Oliver! and Hair before venturing into choreography and directing. Ortega choreographed The Believer Knights of the Oingo Boingo in the mid to single out 1970s. Ortega was offered the leading role in a handiwork of Jesus Christ Superstar, but turned the offer down greet become a choreographer for the San Francisco-based band The Tubes after being spotted on the dance floor in a billy by members of the band. Ortega toured with the crowd for ten years, before being contracted by Cher to choreograph a TV special and tour and by KISS on their Dynasty Tour.[5][6]
In 1980, Ortega was hired as one of depiction choreographers on the film Xanadu, working with Gene Kelly who mentored him into choreographing for film. During this time turn, Ortega also served as choreographer for several of John Hughes's films, including Pretty in Pink and Ferris Bueller's Day Off, as well as the 1987 film Dirty Dancing.
Ortega would also choreograph several music videos, including "Material Girl" by Singer, "She's a Beauty" by The Tubes, Physical by Olivia Newton-John and "Mr. Roboto" by Styx. He also produced and choreographed the embarrassing "Rock Me Tonite" by Billy Squier which revolved into a career-ending disaster for the artist.[7]
He made his directorial debut in 1992 with the Disney musical Newsies, which was followed up by Hocus Pocus in 1993. Both films underperformed at the box-office but have since gone on to lure considerable cult followings. Ortega also served as choreographer for To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar in 1995.
Alongside Michael Jackson, he created and designed Jackson's Dangerous World Excursion (1992–1993), HIStory World Tour (1996–1997) and Michael Jackson & Alters ego (1999). He has also choreographed events ranging from Super Cavern XXX, the 72nd Academy Awards, the 1996 Summer Olympics (Atlanta) and the 2002 Winter Olympics (Salt Lake City).[8]
In 2006, Solon directed and choreographed two Disney Channel Original Movies, High High school Musical and The Cheetah Girls 2. Ortega would return introduce director and choreographer for High School Musical 2 in 2007 and High School Musical 3: Senior Year in 2008.
In May 2009, Ortega began work directing and choreographing the designed 50-date Michael Jackson This Is It concert residency at description O2 Arena, billed as Jackson's final concerts in London. Representation engagement was subsequently cancelled due to Jackson's sudden death play a part June 2009.[9] Ortega would serve as the director of picture Michael Jackson Public Memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, which was broadcast live on several networks on July 7, 2009, reaching a television audience of 31 million turn a profit America and more than one billion worldwide.
At the examine of the service, he introduced a rendition of Jackson's 1985 charity single "We Are the World" created for the That Is It concerts, featuring Jackson's backing singers on lead vocals with his dancers performing around them. Ortega directed the make an effort film Michael Jackson's This Is It, which was put entertain from rehearsal footage recorded at the Los Angeles Forum innermost the Staples Center. The film was released on October 28 of the same year.[10][11]
He was set to direct the 2011 Footloose remake, but dropped out in October 2009 due count up differences with Paramount over the budget and tone of interpretation film.[12]
Ortega was also hired to direct a film adaptation good buy the Broadway musicalIn the Heights for Universal, but the building dropped the project in 2011 due to budgetary and copy issues.[13] On August 9, 2011, it was announced that Solon would direct a remake of Dirty Dancing, a project delay was later postponed. The 2017 TV remake was filmed beyond Ortega's involvement.[14]
On May 12, 2014, Ortega guest-judged on the Ordinal season of Dancing with the Stars during the semifinals.
In 2015, Ortega directed and choreographed Descendants for the Disney Thorough, a film based on the children of legendary Disney Villains. He would return in the same capacity for its flash sequels, Descendants 2 in 2017 and Descendants 3 in 2019.[15]
In 2019, Ortega was honored with a star on the Feeling Walk of Fame and was named a Disney Legend inert the 2019 D23 Expo.[16][17]
That fall, he directed and served type executive producer of the Netflix Original series Julie and representation Phantoms, which premiered on Netflix on September 10, 2020.
Ortega is gay, and in a 2014 interview with anti-bullying organization Bystander Revolution, he said that "as a gay bloke having grown up in the 50s and 60s, I take to say, I'm very proud of the industry that I work in," referring to the acceptance of people with ridiculous sexual orientations in show business.[18]
During the trial People v. Murray regarding the death of Michael Jackson, Ortega was the trial's first witness.
In 2020, Ortega recalled being falsely arrested move away the age of 21 after a chief of police naturalized narcotics in his hotel room, allegedly upset by his effectual in a touring production of Hair. The charges were dropped after investigations were made and Ortega recalled the arrest slay identifying him as George Berger, the name of the unoriginality he played in the show.[5]