The Chita Rivera Awards hosted a reception on Monday, May 6, from 4-6 pm, at Bond 45, located in the heart of NYC’s theater district at 221 West 46th Street, to celebrate its 2024 nominees for dance and choreographic excellence on Broadway and in film, and to present them with their nomination certificates. Following photo ops for the press, everyone was treated to a lavish buffet of the restaurant’s signature Italian specialties.
After welcoming remarks from producer Joe Lanteri (founder and executive director of the New York City Dance Alliance) and actress, singer, and dancer Lisa Mordente (Chita Rivera’s daughter), the names of the nominees in each of the five categories (Outstanding Choreography, Dancer, and Ensemble in a Broadway Show, Outstanding Choreography in a Theatrical Release, and Outstanding Direction of a Dance Documentary) were read by special guest and three-time Tony nominee Sandy Duncan (Chicago; Peter Pan).
Attendees included Chita Rivera Award-nominated dancers and choreographers Ricky Ubeda, Ben Cook, Gaby Diaz, Byron Tittle, and Rachel Lockhart (Illinoise), Camille A. Brown and Chloe Davis (Hell’s Kitchen), Rick and Jeff Kuperman and Tilly Evans-Krueger (The Outsiders), Antoine Boissereau and Jesse Robb (Water for Elephants), and Lorin Latarro (The Who’s Tommy and The Heart of Rock and Roll), along with members of the nominated ensembles of Illinoise (Christine Flores, Zack Gander, Jada German, Brandt Martinez, Dario Natarelli, Craig Salstein, and Ahmad Simmons), Hell’s Kitchen (Reid Clarke, Raechelle Manalo, and Sarah Parker), The Outsiders (Jordan Chin, Milena J. Comeau, Barton Cowperthwaite, RJ Higton, SarahGrace Mariani, Melody Rose, and Victor Carrillo Tracey), Water for Elephants (Rachael Boyd, Alexandra Gaelle Royer, and Nicholas Jelmoni), The Heart of Rock and Roll (Mike Baerga, Olivia Cece, Taylor Marie Daniel, Jennifer Noble, Michael Olaribigbe, and TyNia Rene Brandon), and Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club (Gabi Campo, Ayla Ciccone-Burton, Loren Lester, Corinne Munsch, Chloe Nadon-Enriquez, and Julian Ramos), with several of the nominated artists making their Broadway debuts in breakout performances this season.
Throughout the event there was a feeling of youthful energy and community among the artists, all united by their dedication and outstanding contributions to dance, as exemplified by the legendary Chita Rivera and evident in their enthusiastic cheers, applause, and support for one another as their names were read. Congratulations to all the nominees. As Mordente noted, her mother would have been very proud.
The 2024 Chita Rivera Awards ceremony, at which The Radio City Rockettes will perform, will be held on Monday, May 20, beginning at 7:30 pm, at the NYU Skirball Center, 566 Laguardia Place, NYC. For tickets (priced at $125-750, plus fees), go online. All proceeds will benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation Scholarship Program, which awards college scholarships to talented teenagers. This year, all funding and proceeds will support the creation of a new Chita Rivera Training Scholarship.
