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10TH ANNUAL AMERICAN CHOREOGRAPHY AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED

Los Angeles, Calif./August 11, 2004 – Nominations for the Tenth Annual American Choreography Awards, a live dance extravaganza and awards show to be held  the evening of October 17, 2004 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles, were announced today.  The event honors individuals who have made notable contributions to the art and craft of choreography for the camera and recognizes outstanding achievement in feature film, television, commercials, music video, fight choreography and short film.

A posthumous Innovator Award will go to Walt Disney, whose legendary animated and live-action productions demonstrated a profound understanding of the emotional and narrative impact of a character’s movement when coupled with music; Emmy-award winning director/choreographer Kenny Ortega will be feted with the Career Achievement award for his 30 years of choreographic achievements ranging from “Dirty Dancing” to The Opening Ceremonies of the Salt Lake Winter Olympics.; and Los Angeles dance master Ka-Ron Brown Lehman, the artistic director of the Los Angeles County School of the Arts, will receive the Educator award with a tribute featuring former student and principal dancer Matthew Rushing of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and vocalist Nita Whitaker. 

The American Choreography Awards will be directed by choreographer Ramon del Barrio and will feature show-stopping performances by world renowned choreographers and dancers.  A stellar turnout of celebrity presenters is anticipated for this 10th Anniversary celebration.  Past presenters have included:  Paula Abdul, George Chakiris, Robert DeNiro, Robert Duvall, Dick Van Dyke, Jenna Elfman, Peter Gallagher, Gregory Hines, Quincy Jones, Ann-Margret, Shirley MacLaine, Bebe Neuwirth, Pink, Chita Rivera, Patrick Swayze and Bruce Vilanch.

A VIP reception with honorees, nominees and presenters will immediately precede the event.  Proceeds to benefit the Academy of Dance on Film, the nation’s only library and archive dedicated to the preservation and documentation of dance for the camera.  Tickets can be purchased on-line at www.americanchoreographyawards.com

The nominations were decided by seven individual nomination panel committees comprised of media choreographers, casting directors, directors and producers with expertise in their respective categories.  The show is produced by Julie Arenal, Brianna Barcus, Teresa Campbell, Brian Gendece, Peggy Holmes, Terry Lindholm, Julie McDonald, Shanda Sawyer, Cecile Stuart and Terrance Yates.  

Tenth Annual American Choreography Awards – Honorees & Nominees

HONOREES
Innovator  - Walt Disney
Career Achievement - Kenny Ortega
Educator  - Ka-Ron Brown Lehman

NOMINEES 
Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Feature Film
1. The Company – Gerald Arpino, Laura Dean, Robert Desrosiers, Lar Lubovitch, Alwin Nikolais, Moses Pendleton & Cynthia Quinn of MOMIX, Davis Robertson, Arthur Saint-Leon (transcribed by Ann Hutchinson Guest)
2. Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights – JoAnn Jansen
3. The Triplets of Belleville – Sylvain Chomet
4. You Got Served – Dave Scott, Shane Sparks, Robert James Hoffman III

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Television Special
1. A Time For Dancing – Marguerite Derricks
2. The Disco Ball… A 30-Year Celebration: Usher – Travis Payne
3. 2003 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon: Opening Number – Jason Samuels Smith
4. Acts Of Ardor – Paul Taylor

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Television Variety Series
1. MAD TV “Joe Boxer” – Monie Adamson
2. MAD TV “Regional Championships” – Monie Adamson
3. Comic View Hollywood “Punk It Up” – Neisha Folkes

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Television Episodic
1. American Dreams “The 7-10 Split” – Michelle Johnston
2. Will & Grace “I Do” “Oh No You Di-int” – Tina Landon
3. Will & Grace “Fred Astaire & Ginger Chicken” – Lance Macdonald
4. Malcolm in the Middle “Jump Jump” – Fred Tallaksen

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Fight
1. Master & Commander –Doug Coleman & Daniel Barringer
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – George Marshall Ruge
3. Alias “Prelude” – David M. Morizot
4. Kill Bill Volume 1 – Yuen Woo-Ping & Keith Adams
5. Kill Bill Volume 2 – Yuen Woo-Ping & Keith Adams

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Commercials
1. Capital Radio “Maybe” – Michael Rooney
2. Jack In The Box “Hippy Hippy Shake” – Marguerite Derricks
3. Kmart/Joe Boxer “Dorm” – Wayne Cilento
4. Radio Shack “Big Number” – Liz Curtis
5. Target “Changing Of The Guards” – Fatima Robinson

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Music Video
1. Usher “Yeah” – Anwar “Flii” Burton & Todd Sams
2. Missy Elliott “Pass That Dutch” – Hi Hat
3. Missy Elliott “I’m Really Hot” – Hi Hat
4. Kylie Minogue “Chocolate” – Michael Rooney
5. Britney Spears featuring Madonna “Me Against The Music” – Columbus Short & Kevin Tancharoen

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Short Film
1. Tap Heat – Danny Daniels
2. Departure – Allen Kaeja
3. Amelia – Edouard Lock
4. Hasta La Proxima – Victor Quijada

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To register for press credentials to the American Choreography Awards, go to:
http://system1.ipressroom.com/pr/aca/info/Press-Registration.asp