Following a star-studded inaugural celebration in 2025, the Dance Hall of Fame is set to welcome its next distinguished class of honorees, celebrating trailblazers whose work has left a lasting impact on the art of dance. The induction ceremony will take place at The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage at the Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, December 15.
This year’s class of inductees honors ten luminaries whose contributions have shaped dance across generations and genres. They include Debbie Allen, George Balanchine, Toni Basil, Katherine Dunham, Savion Glover, Mandy Moore and the Nicholas Brothers, as well as three legends from the iconic film West Side Story: George Chakiris, Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn. Each inductee represents a defining era and influence in dance.
An award-winning choreographer, director, producer and actress, Debbie Allen has shaped dance across film, television and stage for decades. She has choreographed the Academy Awards a record 10 times, won four Emmy Awards for choreography and earned a Golden Globe for her role as Lydia Grant in Fame. In 2025, she received the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Award.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential choreographers of the 20th century, George Balanchine transformed classical ballet and helped establish the United States as a global dance center. He co-founded the School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet, creating more than 400 works, including Serenade, Jewels and Agon. His groundbreaking collaborations with composer Igor Stravinsky continue to influence ballet worldwide.
A pioneering choreographer, performer and director, Toni Basil has worked across dance, music, film, television and concert stages for more than six decades. She helped establish street dance as an American art form through her group The Lockers and collaborated with artists including David Bowie, Tina Turner and Mick Jagger. Alongside her influential choreography, Basil is known for her gold and double-platinum hit “Hey Mickey.”
An internationally renowned dancer, choreographer, anthropologist and humanitarian, Katherine Dunham transformed American concert dance by developing a movement vocabulary rooted in African and diasporic traditions. Her research throughout the Caribbean, Africa and Latin America informed the influential Dunham Technique, while her company toured at least 57 countries during segregation. Her legacy includes more than 150 choreographic works and a lasting influence on generations of dancers and choreographers.
A Tony Award-winning choreographer and tap dancer, Savion Glover has helped redefine tap as a form of storytelling and cultural expression. He won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Choreography for Broadway’s Bring in ’Da Noise, Bring in ’Da Funk, having previously made his Broadway debut at age 10 in The Tap Dance Kid. His work also spans Broadway’s Shuffle Along, the Happy Feet films and extensive performance, teaching and mentorship.
A three-time Emmy-winning choreographer, director and producer, Mandy Moore has made a significant impact across television, film and live entertainment. Her credits include So You Think You Can Dance, the Academy Award-winning film La La Land and Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour. With 15 Emmy nominations, she has also choreographed productions for artists including Céline Dion and Shania Twain.
Fayard and Harold Nicholas rose to prominence during the Harlem Renaissance, developing a spectacular tap style that blended jazz, ballet and acrobatic athleticism. Their performance in the 1943 film Stormy Weather, filmed in a single take, remains one of cinema’s most celebrated dance sequences. Their honors include the Kennedy Center Honors and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and their artistry continues to inspire dancers across generations.
An Academy Award- and Golden Globe-winning actor, singer and dancer, George Chakiris is best known for playing Bernardo in the 1961 film West Side Story. His performance earned both awards for Best Supporting Actor in 1962, while his distinctive movement and screen presence helped establish him as one of Hollywood’s memorable dance performers. His career spans film, television, theatre and music.
One of a select group of performers to achieve EGOT status—winning an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony—Rita Moreno has enjoyed a career spanning more than eight decades. Her iconic portrayal of Anita in West Side Story earned her an Academy Award, making her the first Latina to win the honor. She later returned to the story as an executive producer and cast member of Steven Spielberg’s 2021 film adaptation.
An actor, dancer and choreographer whose career began in childhood, Russ Tamblyn became known for his athletic musicality in films including Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and The Fastest Gun Alive. He played Riff, leader of the Jets, in West Side Story and received an Academy Award nomination for his dramatic performance in Peyton Place. Tamblyn later expanded his creative work into directing, choreography and visual art.
The Dance Hall of Fame’s Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, now named the “Dance Hall of Fame Shirley MacLaine Lifetime Achievement Award,” will be announced in the coming weeks, along with the inaugural Dance Educator Award recipient.
Honorees will receive awards donated by Lalique, a sponsor of the event. The awards will be the Tourbillons vase, designed by Suzanne Lalique in 1926 and handcrafted at the company’s factory in Alsace, France. The presentation marks the design’s centenary.
Conceived by Emmy Award-winning choreographer and producer Anita Mann, seven-time Emmy-winning director and producer Louis J. Horvitz, and dance documentarians Melinda and Kurt Soderling, the Dance Hall of Fame was established to recognize dance’s cultural impact and its leading contributors. Mann and Horvitz continue to guide the organization alongside a board of 13 leaders in dance and entertainment.
“The worlds of music and film have long had institutions honoring their greatest talents. Now, dance finally has its own Hall of Fame; a place to recognize the creativity, courage and brilliance that define this art form. It’s a privilege to honor these legends who have moved us all, both literally and emotionally,” said Mann. “Establishing this institution was long overdue, and this cements Dance Hall of Fame as the permanent home dance has always deserved. We look forward to new inductees each year and sharing their legacies to educate and inspire the generations of dancers, choreographers and creators who will follow in their footsteps.”
The event will take place at The Eli & Edythe Broad Stage, an intimate 535-seat venue at the Santa Monica College of Performing Arts Center, promising another unforgettable night celebrating the artists who have shaped the language of movement. The event is open to the public, and tickets are available on the Dance Hall of Fame website, priced at $125 for Reserved, $250 for Gala Preferred and $500 for Gala VIP.
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