Top choreographers from film, television, and digital media celebrated remarkable achievements at the World Choreography Awards in Los Angeles on Sunday. The event highlighted the changing landscape of dance performance across different entertainment channels.
Fatima Robinson was a standout winner in the Motion Picture category for her revolutionary work on “The Color Purple.” Her choreography for the musical piece “Push da Button” surprised judges with its innovative mix of dance forms, which included hip-hop, African dance, tap, jazz, and Jamaican moves. Robinson intentionally used accessories such as handkerchiefs, scarves, and canes to enhance Taraji P. Henson’s performance.
“I gave her movements, so she had somewhere to go, and it wasn’t just a flat performance on stage,” Robinson said of her choreography approach for the piece.
Parris Goebel dominated the evening, winning two trophies. She won the Television Award Show/Special category for her choreography in the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show and the Commercial category for her work on the TRESemmé campaign.
The ceremony celebrated extraordinary talent in various areas. Jon Boogz was recognized in the Television Episodic category for his dramatic work on “Blindspotting,” which featured a dreamy dance sequence that explored racism across three generations. Tessandra Chavez won the Television Reality/Variety Show category for her work on “The Kelly Clarkson Show,” while Robbie Blue received the Digital Content Independent award.
The event’s originator, Allen Walls, referred to the awards as “the Oscars of dance.” This year’s competition had over 275 submissions, indicating the growing awareness of choreography as a sophisticated art form.
Other winners included Shay Latukolan in the Music Video category for “Jungle – Back on 74” and Tyce Diorio in the Digital Content category for “Blackbird.”
The eclectic group of winners demonstrated the breadth of contemporary choreography, which spans film, television, music videos, and internet platforms. The World Choreography Awards continue to recognize the originality and ingenuity of dance professionals in the entertainment sector.
