ANITA MANN
Solid Gold Choreographer
Born in Detroit, MI in 1947, Mann began her dance training by accident, when
she accompanied her brother to dance lessons he was taking to correct a
medical condition. She continued her dance training when her family moved to
St. Louis, and began her professional performance career at age 8 in "The
King and I" at the St. Louis Municipal Opera, according to the book "Film
Choreographers and Dance Directors" by Larry Billman.
After her family moved to Los Angeles, Mann appeared as a dancer in numerous
films and TV shows before beginning her choreographic career at age 18,
assisting choreographers such as Jack Baker, Jack Regas, Alex Romero and
David Winters, according to Billman's book.
Of course, we all know Mann found great solo success as a choreographer with
shows like Solid Gold, for which she received an Emmy nomination. Yet she
also went on to produce and direct numerous stage and screen projects, as
well as shows for cruise ships and resort hotels.
One of Mann's more recent projects was overseeing the 1998-99 show Tap Girls
at Harveys Resort Hotel and Casino in Lake Tahoe, NV. The revue, which
featured eight singing and dancing women as well as former Solid Gold dancer
Cooley Jackson, later traveled across the U.S.
"Tap is certainly with us again," said Mann in a Harveys press release.
"Recently, successful shows like 'Riverdance,' 'Bring In Da Noise Bring In
Da Funk,' 'Tap Dogs,' and 'Five Guys Named Moe' all featured some form of
tap, from classic to modern," she said.
"Tap Girls" is not the first show Mann produced for Harveys. She also is
responsible for the highly successful "Dick Clark's American Bandstand Live"
show, which had a two and a half year run at the hotel, and the 1994
production "Blast From the Past."
The Holland America cruise line also has enlisted Mann's talents to produce
Broadway-style shows aboard their ships. Bill Prince, director of
entertainment for the cruise line, said in a statement "Holland America is
proud to be the only cruise line in the industry with an award-winning
choreographer creating its shows. Mann has produced Broadway-style shows on
many of Holland America's ships."
Back in 1995, Mann co-directed and choreographed the 90-minute live show
version of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, which toured the country.
"What we've put together is a rock-and-roll type concert for kids with a
storyline," said Mann in a 1995 newspaper article. "It's very much the music
on the TV show, but we have illusions, dance routines and music."
Mann also choreographed the hour-long music and dance show tour of "Bobby's
World Live" in 1993 and has also done work for "Sesame Street Live" and "The
Muppets."
An award-winning choreographer, Mann has won a Best Choreography Emmy for
her work on the 1995 Miss America Pageant. She also received two Emmy
nominations for her choreography on Solid Gold and has been named as one of
the country's top five contemporary choreographers by the Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences.
(1983 - 1986)
Anita Mann knew exactly what kept audiences tuning into Solid Gold week
after week - the Solid Gold Dancers! Maybe the skimpy costumes had something
to do with it 
FILM CREDITS
The Lemon Sisters (1990) Lightyear Entertainment/Miramax Films --
choreographer
The Great Muppet Caper (1981) Universal Pictures - choreographer
The Legend of Valentino (1975) - choreographer
Foxy Brown (1974) -- main title choreography
Love and Kisses (1965) - choreographer and dancer
Numerous Elvis Presley movies (1960s) -- dancer
STAGE CREDITS
Tap Girls (1998) Harveys Resort & Casino -- director, choreographer
Dick Clark's American Bandstand Live (1996-98) Harveys Resort & Casino --
director, choreographer
Calendar Girl (1997) Holland America Cruise Lines -- choreographer
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Live (1995) National Tour -- director,
choreographer
Blast From the Past (1994) Harveys Resort & Casino -- director,
choreographer
Bobby's World Live (1993) National Tour -- choreographer
"AM" (1986) at the Backlot Cabaret, West Hollywood -- director, producer,
choreographer
Engelbert Humperdinck World Tour (1986-90) - choreographer, director,
producer
"Swing, swing, swing" (1992-93) Atlantic City & Las Vegas - choreographer,
director, producer
"Hot Stuff" (1993-94) Sands Hotel, Las Vegas - choreographer
"The World's Greatest Illusions" (Busch Gardens)
"Showtime America" (Busch Gardens)
"Soultown" (1989) Disneyland - choreographer, director
TELEVISION CREDITS
Commercials for McDonald's, Manning House Coffee, Campbell's Soup, Winston
Cigarettes, American Dairy Association
Golden Globe Awards
People's Choice Awards
Academy Awards
Full House
Thanksgiving Day (1990) -- choreographer
(aka The Good Family)
Miss America Pageant (1995) -- choreographer
WWF Slammy Awards (late 80's) -- choreographer
Solid Gold (1981-86) - choreographer
The Muppets Go Hollywood - choreographer, Emmy nomination
Cher (1975) -- dance captain (fall 1975-76)
Mission Impossible (1966) -- playing "Ilsa" in episode #3.22
The Monkees (mid-late 1960's) -- dancer
Hullabaloo (1965-66) -- dancer
Shindig (1964-66) -- dancer
MUSIC VIDEO CREDITS
Dolly Parton's "My Potential Boyfriend"
Directed videos for Jane Fonda and Ozzy Osborne
