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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, November 15, 2005

SHOW BIZ
Reality dance contest in the works

By Wayne Harada
Advertiser Columnist

SHALL WE DANCE?: Christine Yasunaga, a teacher at Iolani School and a former original cast member of Broadway's "The Lion King," hopes to launch "Destination Groove: Dance Hawai'i," a reality dance competition to develop future stars.

Inspired by the TV show "So You Think You Can Dance," the work-in-progress will involve guest choreographers-judges such as Gil Duldulao, who's worked with Janet Jackson, Tina Turner and Jennifer Lopez; Carrie Ann Inaba, dancer for Madonna and a judge on "Dancing With the Stars"; and Mia Michaels, judge-choreographer for "So You Think You Can Dance" and choreographer for Celine Dion. "I want to use my experiences and my resources to give back to the community," said Yasunaga, who is seeking sponsors. Call Yasunaga at (917) 405-0415 or write her at christineyasu naga@yahoo.com. ...

NAMES 'N' FACES: Kevin Yamada, a local actor who is on a national tour playing Ito in "Mame," e-mails from Montana that he's set to do a round of PBS Kids Sprout filming this week in Los Angeles. The kid-friendly channel is not carried in Hawai'i, but on it, Yamada reads three birthday cards every day. Kids can visit sproutletsgrow.com to send a greeting. Yamada, who's done plays like "Honk," "Bat Boy" and "Flower Drum Song" here, may skip "Mame" when it resumes touring January because it competes with Sprout filming and his sister's wedding. ...

Melveen Leed sings at the Salvation Army's red kettle kickoff, from noon to 1 p.m. Monday at Tamarind Park downtown. Mayor Mufi Hannemann makes the ceremonial first donation; Na Kupuna Makua Ali'i perform, with Jessica Lani Rich emceeing. ...

SIGHT 'EMS: Carson Kressley, Bravo's fashion guru on "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," donned polka-dotted pants when he dined at Diamond Head Grill recently. He signed autographs and gave restaurant manager Joey Gottesman an autographed copy of In magazine (pointing out his four-page spread). ...

Traditions abound at Romano's Macaroni Grill, newly opened at Ala Moana Center. Chef Michael Longworth occasionally mingles with diners to offer a toast; wait help and hosts sing arias; when a dish is broken, the servers applaud; the kitchen crew shouts "86" when a menu item sells out; and Italian lessons are heard in the bathrooms. Cool! ...

And that's Show Biz. ...

Show Biz is published Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach Wayne Harada at 525-8067, wharada@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.