(© Tricia Baron)
Nominations for the 2026 Chita Rivera Awards were announced for shows and films that opened during the 2025-26 season.
The 2026 Chita Rivera Awards will be presented on May 18 at the NYU Skirball Center and produced by Joe Lanteri, founder and executive director of the New York City Dance Alliance Foundation, in conjunction with Patricia Watt.
The off-Broadway show Gotta Dance! is this year’s recipient of the Douglas and Ethel Watt Critics’ Choice Award, bestowed by the journalists of the Chita Rivera Awards Broadway judging committee to recognize outstanding work that falls outside the framework of the original categories. As previously announced, this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award will go to Ann-Margret.
For this year’s awards, nominators considered outstanding choreography, featured dancers, and ensemble in shows on Broadway and off-Broadway, as well as outstanding choreography in film, that opened in the 2025-26 season. Here is the complete list of nominations:
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BROADWAY SHOW
Christopher Gattelli, Schmigadoon!
Lorin Latarro, Chess
Ellenore Scott, Ragtime
Ellenore Scott, Titaníque
Ani Taj, The Rocky Horror Show
Omari Wiles / 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, Titaníque
Layton Williams, Titaníque
Lyrica Woodruff, Schmigadoon!
OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A BROADWAY SHOW
CATS: The Jellicle Ball
Chess
Ragtime
Schmigadoon!
The Rocky Horror Show
Titaníque
OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A FEATURE FILM
Kiss of The Spider Woman, Choreographers: Sergio Trujillo/Christopher Scott
Michael, Choreographers: Anthony Talauega / 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 / 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
