The 2026 Chita Rivera Awards has announced its nominees across five categories. The awards recognize excellence in dance and choreography, both on the Broadway stage and on the big screen. The Chita Rivera Awards will take place at NYU’s Skirball Center on May 18.
The Off-Broadway revue “Gotta Dance!,” which pays tribute to the work of Jerome Robbins, Gene Kelly, Billy Wilson and more by preserving the original choreography of classic musicals like “West Side Story,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “A Chorus Line” and “Pippin,” will be honored with the Douglas and Ethel Watt Critics’ Choice Award.
As previously announced, Ann-Margret will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
The 2026 Chita Rivera Awards is produced by New York City Dance Alliance Foundation founder and executive producer Joe Lanteri, in conjunction with Patricia Watt.
A full list of nominations is below.
Broadway:
Outstanding Choreography in a Broadway Show
Christopher Gattelli (“Schmigadoon!”)
Lorin Latarro (“Chess”)
Ellenore Scott (“Ragtime”)
Ellenore Scott (“Titanique”)
Ani Taj (“The Rocky Horror Show”)
Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons (“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”)
Outstanding Dancer in a Broadway Show
Jonathan Burke (“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”)
Baby Byrne (“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”)
Max Clayton (“Schmigadoon!”)
Zachary Downer (“Schmigadoon!”)
Sydney James Harcourt (“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”)
Dava Huesca (“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”)
Robert “Silk” Mason (“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”)
Isabelle McCalla (“Schmigadoon!”)
Sarah Meahl (“Chess”)
Constantine Rousouli (“Titanique”)
Layton Williams (“Titanique”)
Lyrica Woodruff (“Schmigadoon!”)
Outstanding Ensemble in a Broadway Show
“Cats: The Jellicle Ball”
“Chess”
“Ragtime”
“Schmigadoon!”
“The Rocky Horror Show”
“Titanique”
Film & Documentary:
Outstanding Choreography in a Feature Film
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Choreographers: Sergio Trujillo and Christopher Scott)
“Michael” (Choreographers: Anthony Talauega and Richmond Talauega)
“Sinners” (Choreographer: Aakomon Jones)
“The Testament Of Ann Lee” (Choreographer: Celia Rowlson-Hall)
“Wicked: For Good” (Choreographer: Christopher Scott)
Outstanding Direction Of A Dance Documentary
“Dick Van Dyke, 100th Celebration” (Director: Steve Boettcher)
“Martha Graham Dance Company: We Are Our Time” — Part I, “American Spirit,” Part II, “Athletes Of God” (Directors: Peter Schnall and Cyndee Readdean)
“Playing The Palace” (Director: Cody Williams)
“Strange Journey: The Story Of Rocky Horror” (Director: Linus O’Brien)
“Tango My Passion” (Director: Dr. Monika Krajewska)
Beneficiaries of the Chita Rivera Awards include the New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA) Foundation Scholarship Program, which provides scholarships to prospective dance students, and the Chita Rivera Training Grant, which consists of financial support and a year of dance classes at Steps on Broadway. Since the NYCDA Foundation’s inception, over 600 dancers at 50 of the most prestigious college dance programs in America have received a collective $5.4 million.
