American Dance Machine for the 21st Century visits New York City's Rainbow Room with Broadway hoofers Tony Yazbeck and Melanie Moore for its latest video, “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing” from the Broadway musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas.
AMD21, "a living archive of great American musical theatre choreography," recreates the choreography for the number as it appeared in the 2008 Broadway production, choreographed by Tony nominee Randy Skinner. The new video is directed, filmed, and edited by Pierre Marais, with Nikki Feirt Atkins, ADM21’s producing artistic director, serving as creative producer. The choreography is recreated by Mary Giattino.
“I was so pleased when Nikki told me she wanted to film "The Best Things Happen While You’re Dancing,” says Skinner. “ADM21 is a creative entity and organization that I admire greatly and with which I share a long history. It was pure joy to be in the studio with Melanie and Tony and see these two beautiful performers bring such style, technique and their love of dancing to my choreography.”
Yazbeck was most recently seen on Broadway in this season's Flying Over Sunset at Lincoln Center Theater. He is a Tony nominee for the 2015 production of On the Town, with additional Broadway credits including the 2009 revival of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Gypsy, and A Chorus Line. Moore can currently be seen in the national tour of To Kill a Mockingbird. She is a So You Think You Can Dance? Season 8 winner, and her Broadway credits include Hello, Dolly! and Fiddler on the Roof.
The video also features the vocal quintet of Cliff Bemis, Drew Humphrey, Wendy James, Jennifer Prescott, and Kevin Worley; vocal and dance arrangements by Bruce Pomahac; music direction by Rob Berman; and, sound engineering by Benjamin Miller. Ricky Lurie is the costume consultant and Edmund Harrison is the wardrobe supervisor.
Previous tribute videos from AMD21 include "Our Favorite Son" from The Will Rogers Follies, "Cool" from West Side Story, "T'aint Nobody’s Biz-ness If I Do" From Bullets Over Broadway, and "The Music and the Mirror" from A Chorus Line.
Proceeds from the video will benefit American Dance Machine for the 21st Century, The Actors Fund, and the Black Theatre Coalition.
