Walt Disney will be honored posthumously at the 10th annual American Choreography Awards, set for Oct. 17 at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. Nominations were announced Wednesday for the honors that recognize contributions to the art and craft of choreography for the camera.
Special awards have been earmarked for Disney, who will be remembered with the innovator award; director-choreographer Kenny Ortega, who will receive a career achievement award; and Los Angeles dance master Ka-Ron Brown Lehman, artistic director of the Los Angeles County School of the Arts, who 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. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Academy of Dance on Film.
The nominees are:
Feature Film: "The Company," Gerald Arpino, Laura Dean, Robert Desrosiers, Lar Lubovitch, Alwin Nikolais, Moses Pendleton and Cynthia Quinn of MOMIX, Davis Robertson and Arthur Saint-Leon (transcribed by Ann Hutchinson Guest); "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights," JoAnn Jansen; "The Triplets of Belleville," Sylvain Chomet; and "You Got Served," Dave Scott, Shane Sparks and Robert James Hoffman III.
Television Special: "A Time for Dancing," Marguerite Derricks; "The Disco Ball ... A 30-Year Celebration," Usher and Travis Payne; "2003 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon" (opening number), Jason Samuels Smith; and "Acts of Ardor," Paul Taylor.
Television Variety Series: "Mad TV" (Joe Boxer), Monie Adamson; "Mad TV" (regional championships), Monie Adamson; "Comic View Hollywood" (Punk It Up), Neisha Folkes.
Television Episodic: "American Dreams" (The 7-10 Split), Michelle Johnston; "Will & Grace," ("I Do, Oh No You Di-int"), Tina Landon; "Will & Grace," ("Fred Astaire & Ginger Chicken"), Lance Macdonald; "Malcolm in the Middle," ("Jump Jump"), Fred Tallaksen.
Fight: "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World," Doug Coleman and Daniel Barringer; "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl," George Marshall Ruge; "Alias," ("Prelude"), David M. Morizot; "Kill Bill-Vol. 1," Yuen Woo-Ping and Keith Adams; "Kill Bill-Vol. 2," Yuen Woo-Ping and Keith Adams.
Commercials: Capital Radio, "Maybe," Michael Rooney; Jack in the Box, "Hippy Hippy Shake," Marguerite Derricks; Kmart/Joe Boxer, "Dorm," Wayne Cilento; Radio Shack, "Big Number," Liz Curtis; and Target, "Changing of the Guards," Fatima Robinson.
Music Video: Usher, "Yeah," Anwar "Flii" Burton and Todd Sams; Missy Elliott, "Pass That Dutch," Hi Hat; Missy Elliott: "I'm Really Hot," Hi Hat; Kylie Minogue, "Chocolate," Michael Rooney; Britney Spears featuring Madonna, "Me Against the Music," Columbus Short and Kevin Tancharoen.
Short Film: "Tap Heat," Danny Daniels; Departure, "Allen Kaeja; "Amelia," Edouard Lock; "Hasta la Proxima," Victor Quijada.