American Choreography Award 2004

Press Release about the Choreography Award Rob won:

10TH ANNUAL AMERICAN CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD WINNERS SHINE AT STAR-STUDDED DANCE EXTRAVAGANZA

Los Angeles, Calif., Oct. 17, 2004 – The winners of the 10th Annual American Choreography Awards were announced today at a spectacular ceremony featuring breath-taking performances, celebrity presenters, emotional tributes and dazzling dance clip compilations.

The awards program featured show-stopping performances by David Parsons, the gravity-defying Diavolo Dance Company, Emmy Award-winner Jason Samuels-Smith, who improvised tap to accompany the moving spoken-word poetry from Norman Lear’s nonpartisan register to vote campaign “Declare Yourself,” the high-flying kicks and leaps of Sideswipe, an extreme martial-arts based group that blends traditional Karate and Tae Kwon Do with gymnastics and acrobatics, and Rich and Tone Talauega in an extravagant hip hop number featuring the stylings of Tommy the Clown and the Krumpers. The stunning opening number, choreographed by ACA Director Ramon del Barrio and former Hubbard Street dancer Francisco Avina, featured 25 dancers from Celine Dion’s Las Vegas show, “A New Day” as well as ten L.A.-based dancers.

This year’s Honorees received special tributes recognizing their notable contributions to the art and craft of choreography for the camera. Educator Award recipient Ka-Ron Brown Lehman, the artistic director of the L.A. County School of the Arts, was moved by a performance from her former student and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater principal dancer Matthew Rushing, accompanied by “Ten Commandments” vocalist Nita Whittaker. Walt Disney, who received a posthumous Innovator Award, was honored by a collection of rare, memorable animated clips. Career Achievement recipient Kenny Ortega received the surprise of the night when former bandmates Fee Waybill and the Tubes rocked the house. Carmen Electra, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Ben Vereen and Jasmine Guy were among the celebrity presenters.

Choreographers nominated in eight different categories of choreography for the camera – feature film, short film, television special, episodic and variety television, fight choreography, commercials and music videos competed for the dance in media’s highest honor of achievement.

10th Annual American Choreography Awards – Honorees & Winners:

Career Achievement
Kenny Ortega

Educator Award
Ka-Ron Brown Lehman

Innovator Award
Walt Disney

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Commercials
Target “Changing Of The Guards” - Fatima Robinson

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Music Video
Missy Elliott “Pass Dat Dutch” – Hi-Hat, Anwar “Flii” Burton, Cicely Bradley & Olisa Thompson

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Short Film
Amelia - Edouard Lock

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Television Special
2003 Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon: Opening Number - Jason Samuels Smith
Acts of Ardor - Paul Taylor

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Television Variety Series
MAD TV “Regional Championships” - Monie Adamson

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Television Episodic
Malcolm in the Middle “Jump Jump” - Fred Tallaksen

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Fight
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl - George Marshall Ruge
Kill Bill Volume 2 - Keith Adams, Sonny Chiba, Quentin Tarantino & Yuen Woo-Ping

Outstanding Achievement in Choreography – Feature Film
The Triplets of Belleville - Sylvain Chomet
You Got Served - Dave Scott, Shane Sparks & Robert James Hoffman III

The winning choreographers were decided by seven committees comprised of media choreographers, casting directors, directors and producers with expertise in their respective categories. Agents, managers, their employees and submitting choreographers, producers and directors are not eligible and did not serve on the ACA Nomination and Voting Committee or vote on any of the nomination panels.

About the American Choreography Awards

Celebrating its tenth year in conjunction with the Academy of Dance on Film, the American Choreography Awards recognizes outstanding achievements in film, television, commercials, and music video to raise the awareness of the art and craft of choreography for the camera and to honor its creators. The organization also honors individuals who have made significant contributions to dance with annual Career Achievement, Educator, Innovator, and Governors Awards. Originally named the L.A. Dance Awards, and then the Fosses, the American Choreography Awards is recognized as the highest standard of achievement in choreography throughout the entertainment industry.

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Here's the bio about Rob (it's from 2004 though):

Robert James Hoffman III

From major roles in t.v. and film, to b-boyin with the B.M.W. hip hop crew, to performing principal roles with various classical ballet companies, the versatility of this Alabama native has made him a much sought after actor, choreographer, and dancer. He currently has a recurring role playing family friend "Matt" on the FOX show "Quintuplets", and he played the lead role in "I?", a short film written and directed by Wade Robson which is being entered in the Sundance Film Festival. As a dancer Robert has worked with stars like Christina Aguilera, Usher, Mya, Marilyn Manson, Paulina Rubio, Brittany Murphy, and Ricky Martin - for whom Robert shot a video called "Juramento" and worked as Ricky's dance double. He has worked on films such as "Pirates of the Carribean," "Dirty Dancing II: Havana Nights," "Gigli," "From Justin to Kelly," "Vanilla Sky," "Coach Carter," "Dinner Party," and "You Got Served." In "You Got Served," Robert played the supporting role of "Max", the rival to B2K and also choreographed all the dancing for his crew. Robert has also done choreography for the singing group "Soluna", for the opening number of the "Hip Hop Dance Awards", and he was assistant choreographer to Kenny Ortega for the "ABC 50 Year Anniversary" special. Robert can be reached through his wonderful team at MSA - 323-957-6680, or through his website: http://www.robertjameshoffmaniii.com.

[In my opinion, Rob should've gotten a choreography credit for Step Up 2 because it's obvious that they use a lot of his moves in the film, and he went on record to say in one of his interviews that his solos were choreographed by him. So, I don't know why they didn't just give it to him.]