Two big dance shows of the 2014-15 season celebrated wins at the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards on June 1. An American in Paris choreographer and director Christopher Wheeldon and On the Town’s Joshua Bergasse tied for Best Choreographer.
Additionally, Robert Fairchild and Tony Yazbeck, the leading men of An American in Paris and On the Town, respectively, tied for Best Male Dancer. An American in Paris’ Leanne Cope took home the title of Best Female Dancer. Akram Khan was also award Best Choreographer in a Feature Film for Desert Dancer.
The ceremony was held at New York University’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. As previously reported, Tony and Oscar winner Joel Grey and Finding Neverland producer Harvey Weinstein received the special Lifetime Achievement Award and the Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre and Film Award, respectively.
The Astaire Awards is the only awards show to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. They were first started in 1982 by the late Fred Astaire and Douglas Watt.