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Pictured LR: Derek Hough and Laura Osnes

Derek Hough paid tribute to Dick Van Dyke and his iconic career in the way he does best – through dance. The entertainment icon was one of the 2021 Kennedy Center Awards winners, and Hough – who is no stranger to rewarding himself with two Primetime Emmy Awards and a record six Dancing With the Stars mirror ball trophies – pulled out all the stops ( and put on a happy face) to pay tribute to the 95-year-old legend with two fantastic singing and dancing performances.

Hough, 36, even received the Van Dyke seal of approval. In a video shared on Hough’s Instagram page, Van Dyke marveled at the dancer’s “Mary Poppins” moves and was blown away when he discovered the “Dancing With the Stars” veteran was just getting into the routine had rehearsed for a few days.

“What a pleasure to perform at @kennedycenter to honor an absolute legend,” Hough captioned the clip. “Dick Van Dyke has entertained us for decades. And performing for him on his special night, it filled me with so much joy to see his face light up during the performance. What an honor. “

So what routines did Hough perform?

Derek Hough performed a song and dance to “Put On a Happy Face” from “Bye Bye Birdie”

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Derek Hough and Laura Osnes dance for Dick Van Dyke at the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center HonorsBroadway stars Derek Hough and Laura Osnes sing and dance through the Bye Bye Birdie number “Put On A Happy Face” and pay tribute to the legendary Kennedy Center Honoree Dick Van Dyke. Stream the entire 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors Special now on CBS and Paramount +.2021-06-07T05: 00: 01Z

In 1960 Van Dyke debuted the song “Put on a Happy Face” in the Broadway musical “Bye Bye Birdie”. Three years later he repeated his role as Albert F. Peterson for a cinema adaptation of the musical via IMDB. Van Dyke played the song with Janet Leigh, who played Rosie De Leon in the movie.

Almost 60 years later, Hough paid tribute to Van Dyke’s role when he and his partner, Broadway star Laura Osnes, performed an updated dance to the song. The two performed the reworked dance in an empty concert hall, where Hough also surprised fans with his singing chops.

Derek Hough danced and sang to “Step In Time” from “Mary Poppins”

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Dick Van Dyke celebrates a rousing “Step In Time” routine at the 43rd Annual Kennedy Center HonorsWith a scenic view of the Potomac River behind them, cast members Derek Hough, Laura Osnes, Aaron Tveit and Pentatonix create a popular act as they pay tribute to the Kennedy Center Honoree Dick Van Dyke. Stream the entire 43rd Annual Kennedy Center Honors Special now on CBS and Paramount +.2021-06-07T05: 00: 04Z

One of Van Dyke’s most popular films is the 1964 classic “Mary Poppins,” in which he played Bert the Chimney Sweep, a guy who also did three things as a street chalk artist, hang-glider and one-man band. Van Dyke also sported a bushy white beard, just as he has now done in real life to play the banker, Mr. Dawes.

In one of Van Dyke’s most memorable scenes from the Oscar-winning film, Bert and the other chimney sweeps danced and sang over the rooftops of London.

More than 55 years later, Van Dyke’s iconic performance from the original film “Mary Poppins” was remembered when Hough and a team of dancers performed a new version of “Step in Time” in his honor. The outdoor segment offered a view of the Potomac River from the rooftop, while singers Laura Osnes, Aaron Tveit and Pentatonix performed vocals.

It’s not the first time that Hough Van Dyke’s signature “Mary Poppins” performance has taken on. For the special “Wonderful World of Disney: Disneyland 60”, which aired on ABC in 2016, he played the lively dance number from the legendary Disney film. In a surprising cameo, Van Dyke, who was 90 years young at the time, even stepped on stage to hold his knees up for the updated version of the dance, Broadway World.

In addition to Hough’s homage to Van Dyke, other Kennedy Center honors Debbie Allen, Garth Brooks, Joan Baez and Midori were honored with performances by Vanessa Hudgens, Kelly Clarkson, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Emmylou Harris and Yo-Yo Ma, according to Vulture.

CONTINUE READING: Kennedy Center honors artists and presenters 2021

The post Derek Hough Pays Tribute to Dick Van Dyke With Kennedy Middle Honors Dances appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

In May, Debbie Allen will join an exclusive group of American dance greats, joining courageous names like Carmen de Lavallade, Bill T. Jones, Twyla Tharp, Michail Baryshnikov, Ginger Rogers, Alvin Ailey and Gene Kelly as the Kennedy Center Honoree.

The annual awards for those who have made outstanding cultural contributions through the performing arts have postponed the December 2020 celebration due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Kennedy Center Honors are now working on plans for an adjusted series of virtual honors for the week of May 17th. The possibility of small personal events on the Kennedy Center campus will be examined as security protocols evolve.

The 43rd group of winners includes Allen, the singer-songwriter and activist Joan Baez, the country-singer-songwriter Garth Brooks, the violinist Midori and the actor Dick Van Dyke.

Anyone who also took home a 2020 dance magazine award is perhaps best known for her portrayal of dance teacher Lydia Grant in “Fame” on television. Her decades-long career spans stage and screen as a performer, choreographer, director and producer. Today she inspires and promotes young artists through her Los Angeles-based Debbie Allen Dance Academy.