A Celebration Of Dance And Chita Rivera At The Chita Rivera Awards – Forbes

Dancers are so gifted. Martha Graham the great choreographer and performer poetically wrote that dancers are an athlete of God. She went on to describe the art form as akin to the symbol of the performance of living.

Chita Rivera

On June 20 at the Chita Rivera Awards, which celebrates excellence in dance and choreography, these unique athletes of god were in full and glorious force. Were honoring dancers who work harder than anybody. Its the least we could do for them, said the great Broadway performer Jackie Hoffman of dances big night. Lee Roy Reams, who played key roles in many Broadway musicals, observed how dancers are counted upon quite heavily. Dancers have always been the backbone of the theater, said Reams.

Now, more than ever, dancers must show they are endlessly versatile and are so key in storytelling throughout their shows. As Reams explained, in 1966, when he was performing in Sweet Charity in the chorus, (now named the ensemble), economics forced casts to shrink. So, dancers had to start singing and singers learned how to dance and now they all do it beautifully, added Reams. Also, choreographers are so key, not only for creating dances, but to staging entire shows.

Hosted by Broadway dance legends Charlotte dAmboise and Bianca Marroqun, the Chita Rivera Awards are produced by Joe Lanteri, founder and executive director of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation Inc., in conjunction with Patricia Watt. With a mission to preserve dance history and recognize great talents past present and future, the stage at NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts was bursting with phenomenal performances and inspiring artists.

This season on Broadway was particularly exceptional for dance as choreographers for shows including Paradise Square, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf, The Music Man, MJ the Musical, American Utopia and Moulin Rouge, were all nominated. In addition to honoring theater the Chita Rivera Awards also has nominations for dance in feature films and documentaries.

Joel Grey, a Tony, Academy and Golden Globe Award winner was given the Lifetime Achievement Award. Also, Jack O'Brien received the SDC Director Award for exemplary collaboration with choreographers. During the dance-filled ceremony hosts d'Amboise and Marroquin did the killer number Nowadays from Chicago, the cast of Stomp performed and Jared Grimes from Funny Girl who tied with MJs Myles Frost for Outstanding Male Dancer in a Broadway Show, tore down the house tap dancing up a storm. Bebe Neuwirth sang Mr. Cellophane.

Curiously Myles Frost and Joel Grey each shared how they were cast in dancing roles when they were untrained dancers. I never had a dance lesson and came to MJ with a lot of raw talent, said Frost who was just coming off his Tony win playing Michael Jackson and thanked the shows director and choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon for all he taught him. And Grey talked about the legendary choreographers have shaped him including Wayne Cilento, Kathleen Marshall, Bob Fosse, Bob Marshall, Tommy Tune, Ann Reinking and more.

Throughout the show, the name that seemed to be on everyones lips was the woman for who the awards are named: Chita. She is our muse, said Amboise and Marroquin of Rivera who is one of the most nominated performers in Tony Award history. Rivera not only has ten nominations and two Tonys, but she also received the 2018 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the theater.

Rivera also has the distinction of getting the Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Obama. Like her unforgettable Anita, Chita Rivera has shown that life can indeed be bright in America, said Obama when he gave her this highest civilian honor. As Ive gotten older as a dancer, she inspires me to keep going and continue with excellence, shared Broadway star Mamie Duncan-Gibbs. Shes like the coolest person in the world, added Hoffman. If you dont like Chita Rivera, youre an insane person. its like not liking ice cream or music.

For Gelan Lambert, associate choreographer at Paradise Square, the musical which won Best Choreography in a Broadway show, having the awards be named after this first lady of dance is particularly meaningful. Its special because of what she has contributed to entertainment as an actress and a dancer. To give dance a pedestal just like an Oscar, Tony, an Emmy and call it after her continues her legacy in terms of excellence, said Lambert. We get to honor people in the dance field. A lot of times we are overlooked. So, this gives us a platform saying this is ours. This is for dance.

Rivera herself had a message for all the dancers who are starting their careers. I hope that they can be themselves, work hard and never give up, she advised. And how does she feel when shes dancing? Without any hesitation Rivera replied, like Im flying.

The cast of Stomp performing

Tendayi Kuumba, (second from right), who won Outstanding Female Dancer In A Broadway show with her ... [+] castmates from "for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf." The cast also won Outstanding Ensemble In A Broadway Show.

Jared Grimes

Joel Grey and Chita Rivera

Hosts Bianca Marroqun and Charlotte dAmboise perform "Nowadays" from Chicago.

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A Celebration Of Dance And Chita Rivera At The Chita Rivera Awards - Forbes