Photo Flash: Reams, Irwin, et al. at 2011 Astaire Awards Reception

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards nominees were announced by choreographer & 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. Check out photos from the reception below!

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 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 premier 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. www.skirballcenter.nyu.edu

For more information or advance ticket purchase for one of the entertainment industry's most electrifying evenings, the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards on May 15 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University please visit www.theastaireawards.org

Click here for a full list of nominees.

Photo Credit: Van Cushay