Vanessa Hudgens, Misty Copeland and Rita Moreno Among 2015 Industry Dance Honorees; Ceremony Tonight!

Broadway stars past, present and future will be honored at this year's Industry Dance Awards.

GIGI's Vanessa Hudgens, upcoming star of ON THE TOWN and American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland, and WEST SIDE STORY's Rita Moreno are among those receiving special recognition at the 2015 ceremony tonight, August 19th, in Hollywood.

Hudgens is being honored for with the Breakthrough Performer Award for her work in GIGI, Copeland is taking home the Dance Trailblazer Award, and Moreno will receive the 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE's Paula Abdul.

Other honorees include Ian Eastwood (New Media Influencer Award), FINDING NEVERLAND choreographer Mia Michaels (Innovator Award), choreographer Vincent Paterson (Dance Icon Award), and DANCING WITH THE STARS judge Carrie Ann Inaba (Role Model Award).

The event, once again benefiting Dancers Against Cancer & Circle of Hope Dance Foundation, celebrates the passion and artistry of dance while bringing together performers, dancers, teachers and industry innovators to aid in the fight against cancer. The red carpet event will feature a lineup of special guest performances and the Circle of Hope Presentation -- giving financial assistance to those in need in the dance community. 2015 Circle of Hope Recipients are Valory Newton, Olivia Lear, Helena Hosch, Kaila Atapovich, Alexa Robertson, Eularee Smith and Chole Frank.

Award categories featured are Best Hip-Hop Performance, Best Jazz Performance, Best Open/Ballet/Acro, Best Tap, Best Lyrical, Best Novelty/Musical, People's Choice, and Choreography of the year.

THE INSIDER's Keltie Knight and STEP UP 2's Robert Hoffman, a former emcee for the event, will host, with ON THE TOWN producer Nigel Lythgoe among the lineup of presenters. Troy Christian directs the evening. Click here for the full list of 2015 nominees and more!

Hudgens, who recently wrapped her starring run in Broadway's GIGI, began her career in musical theatre at the age of 8, performing in productions of EVITA, CAROUSEL, THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE KING & I, THE MUSIC MAN, CINDERELLA and DAMN YANKEES. She made her feature film debut in Catherine Hardwick's THIRTEEN, starring Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood. She is best known for her role as 'Gabriella Montez' in Disney Channel's breakaway hit HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL and its follow up films. Recent credits include FROZEN GROUND, SPRING BREAKERS and GIMME SHELTER.

Copeland will join the cast of Broadway's ON THE TOWN next month. In 2014, she served as a guest judge for three weeks on FOX's popular competition show SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE alongside Lythgoe. In June, the dancer took on the lead roles in both ABT's SWAN LAKE and ROMEO AND JULIET before being promoted to a principal dancer with the company on June 30th.

Moreno will also be feted in the 2015 Kennedy Center Honors this winter. She last starred on Broadway in THE ODD COUPLE and before that WALLY'S CAFE, THE RITZ (which earned her a Tony in 1975), THE NATIONAL HEALTH, GANTRY, LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS, THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN'S WINDOW and SKYDRIFT, as well as SHE LOVES ME in the West End. She is best known for her role as 'Anita' in the film adaptation of WEST SIDE STORY.

The award ceremony is presented by Executive Producer Noah Lands and Directed by Troy Christian. Producers Adrian Ruiz, Matthew Diaz-Caldwell & Christy Lopez. With special thanks to sponsors KAR, Rainbow Dance, Count Down, Spotlight Dance Cup, Masquerade, Applause Talent, StarQuest, The Pulse, LA Dance Magic, Tremaine. For more information visit www.industrydanceawards.com and www.circleofhopedancers.com.

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman