Lula Washington, Tony Charmoli among ACA winners - Presstime News - American Choreography Awards 2001 - Brief Article

Dance Magazine, Jan, 2002 by Rose Eichenbaum

A platoon of stars--Carol Burnett, Charles Durning, Betty White, and Carol Lawrence, for starters--gave the kick and spin of an honest-to-goodness Hollywood premiere to the seventh annual American Choreography Awards (ACA) ceremony, held October 14, 2001, at the El Capitan Theater in Los Angeles. The awards, presented by the Academy of Dance on Film, honored the year's choreographic achievements in motion pictures, television, commercials, and music videos.

Vincent Paterson, Alan Johnson, Fatima, Travis Payne, and Debra Brown were among the choreographers who set pieces specifically for the event. American Ballet Theatre principal Susan Jaffe set the tone for an evening of extraordinary dance with her opening solo as the Dying Swan.

Donald McKayle and Debbie Allen honored Lula Washington with the ACA Educator Award for her commitment to dance in Los Angeles's African American neighborhoods and her belief that "dance is not just for the rich, but for everyone." McKayle reminded the audience that "Lula has been able to sustain a dance company in Los Angeles for over twenty years. That, in and of itself, is worthy of an award."

Tony Charmoli, a pioneer and innovator during the days of variety television, received a Career Achievement Award. Presenter Mitzi Gaynor shared a montage of his early work that took the audience down a real Hollywood walk of fame. Gwen Verdon, Juliet Prowse, Liza Minnelli, Cyd Charisse, and Julie Andrews were just a few of the hundreds of performers to experience the Charmoli style and bring it to a generation of television viewers.

Carol Burnett introduced the designer of her outfit and this year's Governors Award winner, Bob Mackie. The show featured a display of some of Mackie's best costume designs and honored him for setting a standard for costuming.

John O'Connell took the award for best film choreography in Moulin Rouge. Michael Rooney's burst-of-energy choreography won an award for Outstanding Achievement in Commercials ("Swing" for Exxon/Mobil) and Music Video (Fat Boy Slim's "Weapon of Choice"). The category of Outstanding Achievement in Music Video--Hip-Hop featured a tie between Tina Landon (Mya's "Case of the Ex") and Brian "Footwork" Green (Mya's "Free"). Barry Lather accepted an award for Outstanding Achievement in Television--Variety or Special for the 2001 Miss America Pageant. Patti Colombo received honors for her work in episodic television for a Two Guys and a Girl episode, "The One Without Dialogue."

All proceeds for the event benefit the Academy of Dance on Film, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the documentation and preservation of dance created for the camera.