Since National Dance Week 2004 Celebrity Spokesperson, Tommy Tune, first danced onto the Broadway scene in the chorus of Baker Street in 1965, he hasn't stopped and rapidly ascended through the ranks to take on a myriad of roles. As a dancer, singer, choreographer and director, this talented dance master is the winner of nine Tony Awards and the only person in theatrical history to win in four different categories. Tommy was also the recipient of the same two Tony Awards two years in a row. He worked in the chorus of A Joyful Noise in 1967 and How Now Dow Jones in 1968. Rave reviews and his first Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical came for his work in Michael Bennett's Seesaw in 1973. Tommy made his first stretch into other directions when he directed his first show, the off-Broadway production of the innovative feminist musical, The Club, in 1976. He followed this landmark presentation with The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine for which he won his second Tony for Best Choreography. In 1981, Tommy returned to off-Broadway to direct his highly acclaimed and controversial production of Caryl Churchill's Cloud 9 and, in 1982, he earned his third Tony for Best Direction of a Musical in the production, Nine. His dual roles in My One and Only brought him the honor of his fourth and fifth Tonys for Best Choreography and Best Actor in a Musical. The following year's production of The Will Rogers Follies brought two more Tony Awards for Best Choreography and Best Direction of a Musical. Mr. Tune then returned to the stage in his exemplary one-man song and dance extravaganza, Tommy Tune Tonite!, appearing first on Broadway and then touring both nationally and internationally. He has also toured the United States and Canada in the musical classic, Bye, Bye Birdie, directed by Gene Saks.
The honors and recognition given to Tommy Tune are not, however, limited to the Tony Awards. He has been the recipient of eight Drama Desk Awards; two Obie Awards; Dance Magazine's Award for Lifetime Achievement; the 1990 American Dance Award, presented by the National Academy of Dance; the 1990 Drama League Musical Theatre Award for Direction and Choreography; the Astaire Award in both 1990 and 1991; the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement; the University of Texas' Distinguished Alumnus Award and; the Jean Cocteau International Style Award. He has been invited to sing and dance for three U. S. presidents, the Queen of England and the Royal Family of Monaco. In 1991, he was inducted by Gwen Verdon into the Theatre Hall of Fame in Broadway's Gershwin Theatre. In 1994, he was honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. This year's honor of being named NDW Celebrity Spokesperson brings to him the recognition of all American dancers as being a paragon in their midst.
While admitting his first love is the American Broadway experience, Tommy Tune did choose to appear in two movie films early in his career. He appeared as Ambrose Kemper in the movie version of Hello Dolly!, directed by Gene Kelly and starring Barbra Streisand, and was featured in Ken Russell's The Boyfriend, starring Twiggy. He took his talents into television with his work as Assistance Choreographer for The Dean Martin Show. In 1997, Tommy's memoir, Footnotes, was published by Simon and Schuster along with the issue of his first solo CD, "Slow Dancin'," a collection of romantic ballads on the RCA/Victor label. Along with all this incredible work, Tommy's dream of playing Las Vegas came true in 1999 when he debuted as the star of EFX at the MGM Grand Hotel.
Andy Warhol once said that Tommy Tune "exudes a cultivated serenity and a genuine love of life." The New York Times proclaimed "Mr. Tune has reshuffled the elements of the old-style musical into state of the art." Firmly established as a legend in his own time, the lanky 6'6" Texan has traveled a long way from his childhood in Houston where he began tap, acrobatics and ballet lessons at the age of five. He majored in drama at the University of Texas and the University of Houston along the path to where he was ultimately described by Drama Critic, John Simon, "as long on talent as on legs." Certainly, he stands tall far beyond his physical presence in the world of American dancers. An exemplar of superior talent and dedicated mastery, Tommy Tune has never lost his sense of humility and memory of his roots. He is ever ready to assist the dance world in whatever way possible and, as an acknowledged master, leads the way to heightening the public image of the American dancer.

For More On Tommy Tune, Click These Links:
http://www.delafont.com/music_acts/Tommy-Tune.htm
http://www.famoustexans.com/tommytune.htm
http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/Stage/1483/
http://www.curtainup.com/tommytune.html
http://entertainment.msn.com/artist/?artist=181022