Acclaimed director/choreographer Kenny Ortega directs the two-hour premiere episode of the new series Fame L.A. As a first generation Hispanic-American raised in California, Kenny is profoundly proud of his heritage. His earliest memories are of his mother and father dancing to hot Cha-Chas and Tangos in their Redwood City living room while outside Flamenco music battled for airspace with Gospel music and the sounds of Motown.

Kenny's gift for dance and music became apparent at an early age earning him scholarships to several San Francisco Bay Area dance academies. He studied Jazz and Tap extensively as well as Flamenco with the legendary Rosa Montoya in San Francisco. At 13, the acting bug infected him and he began to work in local repertory theater. His passion for the stage blossomed while in high school, where he worked in musical productions such as "Oliver" with Georgia Brown.

Kenny enrolled in college in 1968 but soon after was cast as Berger in the San Francisco company of "Hair." After their San Francisco run, he toured with the production for three years then returned to the Bay Area where he continued to study and perform with the American Conservatory Theatre (ACT) in San Francisco. At that time he also began a long, fruitful relationship with A&M Records' Multi Media Recording Artists, The Tubes. A new phase in Kenny's career began as he staged, choreographed, and performed for over a decade with the group. It was at a Tubes performance at the Pantages Theater in Los Angeles where Cher first met Kenny, leading to a ten-year collaboration, with Kenny directing and choreographing her concert tours and videos.

Kenny's film career began when he assisted Toni Basil choreographing Bette Midler's first feature film, THE ROSE. He next worked with his long-time idol, director/choreographer Gene Kelly, as co-choreographer on the film XANADU, starring Olivia Newton-John. This film project began a deep and lasting relationship with the fabulous Mr. Kelly, who Kenny credits as his greatest influence in the art of choreographing for the camera.

During the years following, Kenny's staging and choreography graced television, concert tours, stage shows, feature films, and many music videos. Pointer Sisters, Bette Midler, KISS, Oingo Boingo, The Miami Sound Machine, and Michael Jackson are a few of the popular music artists who have enjoyed Kenny's work on their concert tours and television specials. Kenny has also choreographed many prestigious award broadcasts including The American Music Awards, The NAACP Image Awards, and the Academy Awards.

As one of the pioneers in music videos, Kenny's choreography has been a crucial element in many of the most innovative, including Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy," Billy Joel's "Allentown, Elton John's "A Word in Spanish," Madonna's "Material Girl," and nearly all of Cher's music videos including "We All Sleep Alone" and "Turn Back Time." Kenny directed and choreographed The Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited," Gloria Estefan's "Comin' Out of the Dark," and The Miami Sound Machine's "The Rhythm is Gonna Get You."

Kenny has been involved in some of the most memorable film choreography of the last few decades. Most recently, Kenny worked with Patrick Swayze and Wesley Snipes helping them create their drag queen characters in TO WONG FOO-THANKS FOR EVERYTHING-JULIE NEWMAR. Some of his additional film credits include ONE FROM THE HEART (1982), ST. ELMO'S FIRE (1985), PRETTY IN PINK (1986), FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF (1986 -- he also directed the Second Unit), and the 1987 box office smash DIRTY DANCING, for which he was both choreographer and creative consultant.

It was the television series based on the film DIRTY DANCING which afforded Kenny his first opportunity to direct for the small screen. In 1990, Kenny directed the pilot and several episodes of the series "Hull High" on which he additionally served as co-executive producer and choreographer.

In 1991 Kenny Ortega began his feature film directing career with the musical NEWSIES for the Walt Disney Company, followed by HOCUS POCUS in 1993, which starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy.

In theatre, Kenny most recently directed and choreographed a piece for The Mark Taper Forum LATINO THEATRE INITIATIVE entitled "Spirits Rising" which was presented at The Anson Ford Theatre in Los Angeles. He was invited to choreograph a new piece for Ballet de Puerto Rico in Puerto Rico in 1997.

Kenny toured with Michael Jackson directing the HISTORY World Tour which played to sold-out crowds in cities throughout the world including Prague, Moscow, and Warsaw. He also produced and staged Michael Jackson's appearance in London for The 1996 Brit Awards telecast. Last year, Kenny joined both creative teams that produced and staged Diana Ross' amazing 1996 Superbowl Halftime Concert, the opening of The World Cup in Chicago, and the 30th Anniversary Superbowl Halftime Show.

Working as Artistic Director in association with Don Mischer Productions, he helped to create and stage the spectacular 1996 Atlanta Olympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies. His concepts and staging thrilled the world with a stellar visual feast at this 100th anniversary celebration.

Patrick Norris began directing for television in 1995 when he partnered with the ABC Network to direct MY SO CALLED LIFE. The show's success escalated his career and paved the way for more great and exciting television projects including RELATIVITY, SECOND NOAH and THE MARSHALL.

Martha Mitchell has directed various powerhouse television dramas and now brings her expertise to FAME L.A. Mitchell's various television credits are CHICAGO HOPE, MOLONEY, LAW AND ORDER, and NEW YORK UNDERCOVER.

Jesus Trevino directs a wide scope of powerful television projects ranging from television drama to children's afterschool specials. The powerful action-dramas that he has directed include THE PRETENDER, NEW YORK UNDERCOVER, CHICAGO HOPE, NYPD BLUE; television movie -- P.O.W.E.R.: THE EDDIE MATOS STORY; television specials -- GANGS(Schoolbreak Special) and DATERAPE (Afterschool special).

Win Phelps brings the vision that he used so successfully in the original series to today's FAME L.A. The many amazing television shows that Phelps has directed include THE X-FILES, MOLONEY, L.A. LAW, NORTHERN EXPOSURE, WEIRD SCIENCE, and DOOGIE HOWSER M.D.

Sharron Miller has an extensive list of directing television dramas. Miller's various television credits include HOMEFRONT, CHRISTY, SISTERS, CHINA BEACH, CAGNEY & LACEY (Received an Emmy Award Nomination-Directing & won a DGA Award-Directing) and L.A. LAW; Television specials -- PIGEON FEATHERS AND THE WOMAN WHO KILLED A MIRACLE (Received an Emmy Award in Directing, Producing, a DGA Award-Directing, a Christopher Award-Directing and a Peabody Award-Directing).

Emmy-Award winning director, Nancy Malone, has worked on various television dramas. Malone's many television credits include STAR TREK: VOYAGER, TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL, PICKET FENCES, SISTERS (Emmy nomination), BEVERLY HILLS 90210, CAGNEY & LACEY, and TRIALS OF ROSIE O'NEIL(Emmy nomination); Television specials -- BOB HOPE 1ST 90 YEARS (Won an Emmy-Award), BRADY BUNCH SPECIAL and BOB HOPE'S CHRISTMAS SPECIAL. Nancy Malone is also the recipient of the most prestigious awards from Women in Film -- The Crystal Award and The Tichi Award.

Robert Ginty has directed severalaward-winning television and feature films as well as documentaries. Ginty's various television credits include LOIS & CLARK, NASH BRIDGES, DREAM ON (Multiple CableAce nominations) and CHINA BEACH(Houston International Film Festival-Best Director-1991, San Francisco Film Festival-1991, Chicago International Film Festival-1991). Feature film credits include UNIVERSE OF ENERGY (IMAX movie for Epcot Center-Disney World Florida), WOMAN OF DESIRE (Winner-Houston International Film Festival, Salerno International Film Festival, Cairo International Film Festival), SHOOTFIGHTER (Winner Best Martial Arts Film: Black Belt Magazine), VIETNAM, TEXAS (Winner-Best Director Houston International Film Festival, Best New Director Taorimina Film Festival in Italy, Film Maker Award Santa Barbara International Film Festival), BOUNTY HUNTER (Winner-Native American Film Festival-A.I.M. Award, Cannes Film Festival-Uncertain Regard). The documentaries that Ginty has also worked on are THE MAKING OF ROCKY III, THE MAKING OF DRIVING MISS DAISY and THE MAKING OF ARMY OF DARKNESS.

Michael Steinberg's career exploded when his first feature film,, WATERDANCE won the Jury Prize (1991) at the infamous Sundance Film Festival. With such a great entrance into the entertainment industry, Steinberg kept producing amazing feature films. To highlight a few, BODIES REST AND MOTION(Director) and SLEEP WITH ME (Producer).

Bruce Green has directed and worked on many great television series through the years. Green's directing credits include BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, LAW & ORDER, AMERICAN GOTHIC, SEAQUEST, DOOGIE HOWSER, M.D., and MAGNUM P.I.

Helen Shaver is regularly seen in MGM's supernatural television series POLTERGEIST: THE LEGACY playing the role of Dr. Rachel Corrigan. Ms. Shaver is a successful award-winning actress who is now turning her talents to directing. She has directed various episodes of POLTERGEIST: THE LEGACY and is now directing FAME L.A.

In twelve years, Martin Allen Pasetta, Jr., has a diversity of experiences that most directors would envy. Since 1985, he has directed live network comedy awards specials, live pay-per-view concerts, network telethons, and hundreds of television dramas.