Marina Tamayo nominated for Broadway award

Marina Tamayo, the Sydney-based flamenco artist and founder of Flamenco Australia, has been nominated for the Chita Rivera Awards for Dance and Choreography in New York.

She has been jointly nominated alongside American choreographer Benjamin Millepied for Outstanding Choreography in a Theatrical Release for the film Carmen, which was directed by Millepied and filmed in Australia. Tamayo starred as Carmen's mother, and not only collaborated on the choreography but also danced in the film.

They are in excellent company. Other nominees are Jennifer White, for Barbie, Fatima Robinson, for Color Purple, Kyle Hanagami, for Mean Girls, and Christopher Gattelli, for Wonka.

The annual Chita Rivera Awards celebrate outstanding dance and choreography in theatre, both on and off-Broadway, and in film. They were originally called The Astaire Awards, but were renamed in 2017 after the legendary Broadway star (most famous for West Side Story.)

Tamayo will be heading to New York for the star-studded event, which takes place at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on May 20.