The 2024 Chita Rivera Awards were held on Monday, May 20 at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
Hosted by Jared Grimes, the 2024 Chita Rivera Awards celebrated dance and choreographic excellence in spectacular fashion. In addition to recognizing dance and choreography, the mission of the Chita Rivera Awards also includes preserving notable dance history, recognizing past, present, and future talents, and promoting high standards in dance education while investing in the next generation of performing artists.
Nominees were recognized for their work both on Broadway and in film in the 2023-2024 season. Specifically, the categories included Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show, Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show, Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show, Outstanding Choreography in a Theatrical Release and Outstanding Direction of a Dance Documentary.
All proceeds of the Chita Rivera Awards benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation Scholarship Program, a phenomenal foundation committed to broadening performing arts awareness while also advocating education and high standards of excellence in the world of dance. At this 2024 show, all funding and proceeds went to support the creation of a new Chita Rivera Training Scholarship.
The results of the awards were revealed throughout the night. In addition to Bernadette Peters being awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, Mayte Natalio received the Douglas and Ethel Watt Critics’ Choice Award. The rest of the catergories panned out as follows:
Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show (tie): Camille A Brown, Hell’s Kitchen and Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants.
Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show: Antoine Boissereau, Water for Elephants and Tilly Evans-Krueger, The Outsiders
Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show: Illinoise
Outstanding Choreography in a Theatrical Release: Jennifer White, Barbie
Outstanding Direction of a Dance Documentary: David Petersen, Lift
The Knockturnal got the chance to chat with some guests on the red carpet at the Chita Rivera Awards and talk all things dance, choreography, and Broadway.
More information on the Chita Rivera Awards can be found here.