New York City - "Catch Me If You Can" led the pack in scoring six nominations for the 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards. The nominees were announced by choreographer and director Lee Roy Reams at a special reception hosted by Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Ronald Buchter and Patricia Watt, Producer of the Astaire Awards at Theater Row's Firebird Russian Restaurant. The "Astaires" are the only awards to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film.

Jermaine Browne and Russ Torres. (Theodorus Van Wyck Cushny)

Some 100 of the theater and film world's great dancers, choreographers and producers filled the elegant townhouse and nibbled on such Russian delicacies as blini with caviar, chicken Kiev and salmon mousse while anxiously awaiting the good - or bad news. Fortunately, there was a lot of good news this year, as the committee members were tied on many votes. As a result, there were more than the usual nominees in many categories. Surely it was a great year for dance on the Great White Way and on the silver screen.

There were cheers and loud applause throughout the reading of the nominees. The much loved and respected award winning director and choreographer Kathleen Marshall whose family hails form Bridgehampton was swarmed by her cast when her name was called. All in all, nine choreographers were nominated for the best of Broadway.

This year's Nominating Committee Chair is Sylviane Gold. Committee members include Anna Kisselgoff, Damian Woetzel, Wendy Perron, Manny and Lani Azenberg, Donna McKechnie, Lee Roy Reams, Wendy Federman, Barbara and Buddy Freitag, Michael Riedel, Marge Champion, Margaret Selby, Melinda Atwood, Bryan Bantry, Adam Zotovich, Andy Sandberg and Bruce Michael.

The Awarding Committee includes Sylviane Gold, Anna Kisselgoff, Wendy Perron, Lee Roy Reams and Damian Woetzel.

2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards Honorary Chairs are Judith Jamison and Wendy Federman. Awards Gala Chairs are Carolyn Kendall Buchter, Cassandra Seidenfeld Lyster and Bruce Michael. Producer is Patricia Watt. Co-Producer is Joe Lanteri, National Dance Alliance. Associate Producer is Bronwen Carson.

Director is Joe Lanteri. The Awards are presented by Ava Astaire and the Douglas Watt Family Fund for the Performing Arts. The awards gala will benefit the Dance & Movement Therapy Programs in New York Public Schools and scholarships for dancers through National Dance Alliance.

This year's Awards hosted by Bebe Neuwirth and Reams will take place at Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU on May 15. The Jack H. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts is the premiere venue for the presentation of cultural and performing arts events for New York University and lower Manhattan. Led by executive producer Jay Oliva (President Emeritus, NYU) and senior director Michael Harrington, the programs of Skirball Center reflect NYU's mission as an international center of scholarship, defined by excellence and innovation and shaped by an intellectually rich and diverse environment. A vital aspect of the Center's mission is to build young adult audiences for the future of live performance.

For more information on the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards go to www.theastaireawards.org.

2011 Nominees for Excellence In Dance & Choreography on Broadway are:

Broadway Choreographer
 • Rob Ashford - "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
 • Marguerite Derricks - "Wonderland"
 • Kathleen Marshall - "Anything Goes"
 • Jerry Mitchell - "Catch Me if You Can"
 • Toby Sedgwick - "Warhorse"
 • Susan Stroman - "Scottsboro Boys"
 • Anthony Van Laast - "Sister Act"
 • Danny Mefford - "Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson"
 • Casey Nicholaw - "Book of Mormon"

Female Dancer, Broadway
 • Rachel de Benedet - "Catch Me if You Can"
 • Sutton Foster - "Anything Goes"
 • Jennifer Frankel - "Catch Me if You Can"
 • J. Elaine Marcos - "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
 • Patina Miller - "Sister Act"
 • Laura Osnes - "Anything Goes"
 • Angie Schworer - "Catch Me if You Can"
 • Megan Sikora - "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
 • Samantha Zack - "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"

Male Dancer, Broadway
 • Nick Adams - "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"
 • Norbert Leo Butz - "Catch Me if You Can"
 • Colman Domingo - "Scottsboro Boys"
 • Colin Donnell - "Anything Goes"
 • Josh Gad - "Book of Mormon"
 • Joshua Henry - "Scottsboro Boys"
 • Daniel Radcliffe - "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying"
 • Aaron Tveit - "Catch Me if You Can"

2011 Nominees For Excellence In Choreography On Film
 • "Black Swan" - Choreographer Benjamin Millepied
 • "Burlesque" - Choreographer, Denise Faye/Co-Choreographer, Joe Pizzi,
 • "Lord of the Dance 3D" - Choreographer, Michael Flatley
 • "Mao's Last Dancer" - Choreographers - Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon
 • "Step It Up 3D" - Choreographer, Jamal Sims
 • "The Adjustment Bureau" - Choreographer, Benoit-Swan Pouffer

Legendary dancer, choreographer and teacher Jacques D'amboise will receive the 2011 Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award named for the late esteemed drama critic who with Mr. Astaire founded the awards.