Inside the Chita Rivera Awards: The Winners

The 2019 Chita Rivera Awards took place at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place off Washington Square Park). Produced by Joe Lanteri, Founder and Executive Director of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, Inc. in conjunction with Patricia Watt.

Dancer, choreographer and theater director Graciela Daniele was honored with the third annual Lifetime Achievement Award.

Flody Suarez, Jeffrey Seller, and Cher (producers of The Cher Show) were honored with the Ambassador for the Arts Award honoring their contribution to the convergence of theater, film, and television. 

George C. Wolfe was presented with the SDC Director Award for exemplary collaboration with choreographers on Broadway. And the winners are:

Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show: David Neumann, Hadestown 

Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show: Ephraim Sykes, Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations 

Outstanding Female Dancer in a Broadway Show: A tie for Ashley Blair Fitzgerald, The Cher Show and Gabrielle Hamilton, Oklahoma! 

Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show: King Kong

Outstanding Choreography Off Broadway: Rick and Jeff Kuperman, Alice By Heart 

Outstanding Male Dancer Off Broadway:Wesley Taylor, Alice By Heart 

Outstanding Female Dancer Off Broadway: Irina Dvorovenko, The Beast in the Jungle

Outstanding Ensemble Off Broadway: Smokey Joe’s Café, Steven Baruch, Mark Routh, Richard Frankel, TTom Viertel

Theatrical Release: Mary Poppins Returns – (Release date, December 19, 2018, Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda)
Choreographers: Rob Marshall & John DeLuca; Co-Choreographer, Joey Pizzi; Associate Choreographer, Tara Nichole Hughes, Assistant Choreographer: Marlon Pelayo 

Documentaries:Moving Stories, Lives Transformed By Dance – (Release Date, August 11, 2018, Battery Dance Festival, MoMa)
Director: Rob Fruchtman, Wilderness Films, Producer 

The mission of the Chita Rivera Awards is to celebrate dance and choreographic excellence, preserve notable dance history, recognize past, present and future talents, while promoting high standards in dance education and investing in the next generation.