Dance routine on "Twinkle Toe Muppets".
Swim routine on "Red's Drippy Dilemma."
Busby Berkeley (1895-1976) was a choreographer and director for motion pictures, especially known for his work in assorted 1930s Warner Bros. musicals. His trademarks included overhead camera shots of the dancers forming kaleidoscopic patterns and ornate costuming.
After choreographing or dance staging several 1933 films including 42nd Street, Footlight Parade, and Gold Diggers of 1933, Berkeley directed and choreographed the follow up Gold Diggers of 1935. Several "Let's put on a show" outings with Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland followed. Berkeley shifted to 20th Century Fox for 1943's The Gang's All Here (showcased with the Carmen Miranda number "Lady in the Tutti Frutti Hat.") He directed Take Me Out to the Ball Game (with Gene Kelly) at MGM. One of his last assignments was as second unit director on Billy Rose's Jumbo (with Jimmy Durante).
References[]
- The Great Muppet Caper shows Berkeley's influence, particularly the geometric arrangement of "Piggy's Fantasy."
- In the fourth season Muppet Babies episode "Twinkle Toe Muppets," Berkeley-style choreography is used with overhead shots of the dancing chickens.
- In the animated Fraggle Rock episode "Red's Drippy Dilemma," a large group of Fraggles can be seen swimming in coordinated formation from an overhead shot.
- "Five Onstage Dancers" from Sesame Street used Berkeley-esque camera movements.
- Dorothy imagines Elmo as one of several penguins who perform a Berkeley-esque swimming number in the Elmo's World episode, "Penguins."