Kennedy Center Honors

Kennedy Center Honors, You want eclectic? You got eclectic, and then some, at the Kennedy Center Sunday night during the annual Honors Gala, the city’s biggest, ritziest, celebrity-est party, fundraiser and made-for-TV tribute fest.
The 34th version of the three-hour show — this year honoring Yo-Yo Ma, Meryl Streep, Barbara Cook, Sonny Rollins and Neil Diamond — was its usual concoction of high and low and several things in between, played out in front of the president and first lady and a tuxedo-and-ballgowned crowd. Alternately noisy and solemn, rousing and high-minded, the Honors performances were, typically, a three-ring circus of American arts and culture.
With the five honorees ensconced with the first couple at balcony level and the swells nestled in $5,500-a-ticket orchestra seats, there was, as usual, something, and someone, for the entire family: bluegrass, bebop, Broadway, “Out of Africa” and well-behaved choru?ses of “Sweet Caroline.”

For Streep, an all-star collection of stage and movie talent competed to bestow praise on the woman regularly referred to as “the greatest actress of her generation.” Mike Nichols, who directed Streep in four films, including the drama “Silkwood” and the comedy “Heartburn,” said of her: “She could handle any part thrown at her, except maybe Gidget.” Emily Blunt, Stanley Tucci and Streep’s “Sophie’s Choice” co-star Kevin Kline debated the best Streep role. Her “Deer Hunter” co-star, Robert De Niro, went in the other direction. After a video summary of Streep’s career, he quipped, “Looking at those great moments over the years, I realize .?.?. I was amazing in ‘Deer Hunter.’ ”

Bill Cosby introduced Rollins’s segment, calling the jazz saxophonist “a giant of this most American art form.” This was followed by a mini-concert (Ellington’s “In My Solitude,” Rollins’s “Sonnymoon for Two,” among other numbers), featuring a small army of sax masters — Benny Golson, Joe Lovano, Jimmy Heath and Ravi Coltrane. Rollins, his bushy silver mane as distinct as a beacon in the balcony, looked on with evident pleasure.

Cook, the one-time Broadway ingenue who evolved into a cabaret and music-hall maestro, was serenaded by Broadway royalty, including Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster and Audra McDonald. The surprise of the torch-song parade was Glenn Close, the original Norma Desmond in the musical version of “Sunset Boulevard,” who sang “Losing My Mind” from “Follies” with just a hint of Desmond-like desperation.

Diamond was introduced (for reasons unclear) by John Lithgow, who called the pop singer-songwriter “an American classic.” And then the radio-friendly Diamond hits poured forth from the likes of Raphael Saadiq (“Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon”), Jennifer Nettles (“Hello Again”) and Lionel Richie (“I Am, I Said”). (Because this was an evening of celebration, no one mentioned that the last song contains perhaps the most quizzical couplet in a monster-selling pop song: “I am, I said, to no one there / And no one heard at all, not even the chair.” Not even the chair?)

Bill T Jones

Bill T Jones, An Ex-soloist with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company and Martha Graham in school and Jose Limon technique, Houlihan remembers as everyone living on the making of modern dance in the United States.

Now on the faculty at Florida State University, Houlihan left an indelible mark in South Florida during his stint as a professor at the New World School of the Arts and artistic director of the Miami-based Houlihan and Dancers in 1990s. His legacy will be celebrated with a retrospective at the Florida Dance Association Winterfest on Thursday.

There is no greater evidence of the influence that Houlihan’s imminent rise of his favorite pupil, Robert Battle, now artistic director for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. “Robert is the person who reminds me more of myself early in my career,” Houlihan beams on the phone from Tallahassee. “He was always able to dance movements with the style, phrasing and nuances that I saw in my mind.”

Testimony is also the former Houlihan dancer Jennifer Nugent, now with the Bill T. Jones / Arnie Zane Dance Company and a choreographer celebrated in his own right. She will return to the stage in Miami for the show as a guest artist with Nugent is frequent collaborator Paul Matteson.

In general, Houlihan remembers more about the dancers, she has worked with the dance she conceived. “I am very grateful for the many incredible dancers were an important part of society, and also responsible for my development as an artist,” she said. “I hope people will feel that deep connection and joy of dance.”

So it is no wonder that it pays homage to his teachers as well. “Anthony Tudor, my teacher at the Juilliard School and an outstanding choreographer, was a huge influence,” she said of the Brit who played a crucial role in the formation of the American Ballet Theater. “His musicality, wit and ability to find connections between classical ballet and contemporary dance make him ahead of his time.”

On his way to see the new Natalie Portman film Black Swan, tried to do for ballet what Psycho did for showers Hitchcock, Houlihan said the time for dance innovator has come. “Dance is everywhere now,” she exclaims. “The old models of training and creative work are constantly being challenged. Personally, I am always happy to see pure dance, simple, committed, intelligent, sincere of all kinds!”

Bill T Jones

Bill T Jones, The real ceremonies for bachelor’s Kennedy Center was held earlier in the month but were released in a special two-hour Tuesday, December 28, 2010. Honored this year include country legend Merle Haggard HaggardMerle, talk show queen Oprah, rock legend Sir Paul McCartney McCartneyPaul, composer Jerry Herman HermanJerry, and dance choreographer Bill T. JonesBill T. Jones.

The thirty-third special Kennedy Center opened with Caroline Kennedy KennedyCaroline.

Julia Roberts RobertsJulia introduced the first honoree … Oprah Gail, which is followed by a video presentation on the life of Oprah Winfrey’s childhood. Oprah is the first woman to own her own television and film studio. In this package Oprah says she believes the world is a school and our classroom life. Nineteen Ninety Five Kennedy Center honored Sidney Portier and starts out by saying, “my friend Oprah,” the words he says too little ‘out his tongue. Portier says that Oprah is a social network that should be. He told Oprah humanity, passion, and two chairs next two chairs on stage, it is turned backwards, the other actor John Travolta TravoltaJohn who talked about how Oprah has served him and said that Oprah never asked to give something, it hasn ‘t already. The other chair rotates around to reveal colleagues talk show Barbara Walters WaltersBarbara. In the spirit of John Travolta Oprah show announces a public issue, which is a member of the audience that Chris Rock called Oprah the most powerful person in the world. He then went on play a game called Oprah is so rich … Barbara Walters introduced a special treatment for Oprah – a song from the Broadway musical “The Color Purple” performed by Jennifer Hudson HudsonJennifer who was accompanied by the choir Oprah alma mater of Tennessee State University.

According to 1996 Kennedy Center honored Edward Albee AlbeeEdward presented twice Tony Award-winning choreographer Bill T. Jones. Albee called Jones a man of average size until you see him dance, then it is bigger than other men. In his package of video clips were dancing Jones and his life. Jones can be entered college as a star of the runway, but a dance class taught him to soar. After meeting the couple formed Arnie Zane dance company that held the world dancing on the head. Six years after the formation of society Zane died of AIDS, but Jones continued to break all the rules of dance to create his own. Claire Danes DanesClaire referred to Jones as an inspiration. Dance Company Bill T. Jones Jones, Arnie Zane Dance Company performed.

To introduce the third Kennedy Center Honor and was inducted in 2000 Kennedy Center honored Angela Lansbury recalled that the first show she and Tony award-winning 10 times Jerry Herman worked together – “Mame”. Landsbury concluded his speech with, “it’s so nice to see you if you belong.” After a series of music video of Herman and life, Kelsey Grammar is out to speak to Herman. Responsible for such hit shows as “Hello Dolly”, “La Cage aux Folles” and “Mame,” Herman began writing music in college and made his Broadway debut at age 25. The musical tribute to Jerry Herman with Carol Channing began singing a few lines of his signature song “Hello Dolly” only she changed the name of Dolly with Jerry. The musical tribute continued with songs from musicals Herman performers Matthew Morrison, Chita Rivera, and Angela Landsbury.

After a few words of President Kennedy Center, country music star Vince Gill presented two Grammy Award winning country legend Merle Haggard. Gill said that Haggard has revealed everything you need to know about Haggard through his songs, adding that Haggard is the poet of the common man. After a video clip on Haggard’s life, which included an internship at San Quinton Prison, Miranda Lambert and Chris Kristofferson began musical tribute to Haggard. Other artists with a musical tribute to Haggard were Vince Gill, Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow, 1998 Kennedy Center honored Willie Nelson, Jamie Johnson, and Kid Rock.

The actor Alec Baldwin has introduced the final winner of the night 13 times Grammy Award and the pop rock legend Sir Paul McCartney. Speaking to Sir Paul, Baldwin said he earned his success the hard way by winning and not having delivered to him as a winner of “America’s Got Talent.” Call him a genius, Baldwin said that Sir Paul married rock beauty. Once the package video on the life of Sir Paul, in which Sir Paul revealed that he took him a trumpet as a gift by his father and exchanged against a guitar, probably began with a musical tribute to the pot rotten. They were followed by a performance of “Maybe I’m Amazed” by Norah Jones and Dave Grohl. Aerosmith singer and “American Idol” judge Steven Tyler before singing a medley of music from Sir Paul said he was very proud to be standing on the corner of Pennsylvania Ave. and Abbey Road. James Taylor started singing “Let it Be” and was joined by Mavis Staples, a choir, and later the entire scene on their feet and sing.

Caroline Kennedy ended the evening talking to the new Kennedy Center honored inducted by saying, “it is time for you to take another bow for us to show our gratitude.”

Kennedy Center Honors 2010

Kennedy Center Honors 2010, Diana Ross oozed glamorous at the 33rd edition of the Kennedy Center Honors on Saturday in Washington, DC Superstar 66 years of Motown and 2007 Kennedy Center winner on the red carpet in style diva – with its signature big hair in the trailer.

Ross shook her curls in a long, detached way. And her hair voluminous prepares the ground for bold lipstick, earrings, statement, shimmering silver dress and fur coat completely. Ross seems motto has always been “I’m Coming Out”, so why stop now, right?

With President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama schlew and other Hollywood A-listers including Julia Roberts, John Travolta, Gwen Stefani, Steven Tyler, Ross was there to greet entertainment this year honored Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, the Country singer Merle Haggard, composer Jerry Herman and dancer Bill T. Jones. The Kennedy Center Honors will be broadcast Dec. 28 on CBS.