Andre Kasten, Jacob Jonas and Lindsay Nelko to Showcase Work at Capezio A.C.E. Award Winners Festival, 8/4-7

Capezio A.C.E. Award Winners Festival, a competition dedicated to introducing the next generation of emerging and influential choreographers, announces its lineup for the winners performance festival, August 4 - August 7 at Ailey Citigroup Theater (405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue).

Featured in this year's Award Winners Festival will be first runner-up Andre Kasten (Dancer for Celine Dion, Elton John, & Jennifer Lopez), co-second runner-up Jacob Jonas (Choreographer of the feature film "Claire's Cambodia") and co-second runner-up Lindsay Nelko (Choreographer for "So You Think You Can Dance" Season 10), who each received a grant and one year to produce their work. Each of the winners have three performances to showcase their full-length pieces. First place winner, Erica Sobol's full-length show was performed in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Now in its sixth season, the Capezio A.C.E. Award competition receives 150 to 250 choreography submissions every year, representing all styles of dance from tap, jazz, ballet, modern to musical theatre. The top 15 submissions are selected to come to New York and present their work at The Dance Teacher Summit. A panel of representatives from Capezio, Dance Teacher Summit, Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine and the dance industry deliberate to select three pieces to be expanded into full-length shows.

"The Dance Teacher Summit is committed to featuring emerging choreographers who foster the art of dance," said Katy Malone, Director, Dance Teacher Summit. "To further this goal, the Summit is proud to partner with Capezio to host the annual A.C.E. Award competition to introduce these talented choreographers to the concert and theatrical world. For most young dancers, teachers and choreographers, it is too expensive to self-produce their work. We are thankful for the generous contributions Capezio makes to help artists begin their careers and we look forward to sharing these groundbreaking new works with dance audiences in New York."

The four evenings of dance will be divided between the award winners, the schedule is as follows:

August 4 - 7, 2014, The Ailey Citigroup Theater (405 West 55th Street at 9thAvenue)

Monday, August 4, 2014

9:30pm - Andre Kasten's Gray St

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

6pm - Andre Kasten's Gray St

8pm - Jacob Jonas's In A Room on Broad Street

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

6pm - Lindsay Nelko's Awakening

8pm - Andre Kasten's Gray St

10pm - Jacob Jonas's In A Room on Broad Street

Thursday, August 7, 2014

5:30pm - Jacob Jonas's In A Room on Broad Street

8pm - Lindsay Nelko's Awakening

10pm - Lindsay Nelko's Awakening

Andre Kasten's Gray St is an hour and fifteen-minute dance production about the emotional ride of family dynamics. Featuring a cast of six dancers, this show explores the idea of so many of us who live our day-to-day lives in that gray area; a life lacking vibrancy and significance.

In A Room on Broad Street is Jacob Jonas's view on society's competitive nature. Combining the techniques of breakdancing, contemporary ballet and circus acts, the show will explore how society's competitive nature affects relationships, creates our work ethic, and brings certain qualities out of each individual including balance, patience and strength.

Awakening, Ms. Nelko's fusion of ballet, modern and jazz techniques inspired by the DREAM state, features a stellar cast of 24 dancers from major companies, including Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Broadway shows, Miami City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and more, who will interpret Ms. Nelko's fascination with that blurred state between wakefulness and sleep.

Past Capezio A.C.E. Award winners have included Travis Wall in 2009 with It's Gonna Be A Long Walk, Peter Chu in 2010 with This Thought and Al Blackstone in 2011 with Brown Eyed Girl. Wall, best known as contestant turned Emmy-nominated choreographer on "So You Think You Can Dance", can currently be seen touring his contemporary commercial dance company, Shaping Sound. Julliard alum Chu, has since launched his own company, Chuthis, and choreographs for various dance companies across the country. Blackstone, the first musical theatre choreographer to be recognized in the competition, premiered the dance narrative Happy We'll Be and continues to choreograph for Broadway, national tours and is a faculty member at Broadway Dance Center.

The Capeizo A.C.E. Award Winners Festival is produced by Dance Teacher Summit and Break the Floor Productions. Tickets are $20 and are currently on sale at www.capezioaceawards.com.

About Capezio: Dedicated to the art of dance since 1887, Capezio revolutionized the dance world with dancewear and footwear products for every dancer from beginner to professional. Capezio operates retail stores carrying the full lines of all Capezio/Ballet Maker Inc. brands in New York City and several major cities nationwide. For more information, visit www.capezio.com

About Break The Floor Productions: Break the Floor Productions is considered one of the world's preeminent dance entertainment companies today. In addition to touring theatrical productions, they produce over 80 dance convention events throughout the year which encompass dance workshops, dance competitions, photo and video production, corporate events and apparel. With a broad range of business prospects and a reach of over 250,000 dancers annually, Break the Floor Productions is largely responsible for the transformation of dance entertainment. Website: www.breakthefloor.com.