Leap of Faith’s Leslie Odom Jr. and Porgy and Bess’ Lisa Nicole Wilkerson Win 2012 Astaire Awards

Leap of Faith’s Leslie Odom Jr. and Porgy and Bess' Lisa Nicole Wilkerson were named Broadway’s Best Male and Female Dancers, respectively, at the 30th annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards. The ceremony was held June 4 at NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. 

Ron Brown also took home the award for Outstanding Choreographer for Porgy and Bess. The Artist won the Astaire Award for Outstanding Feature Film Choreography, while Pina took home the top prize for Outstanding Dance Documentary. In addition, Liza Minnelli received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award.


Established in 1982, the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards recognize outstanding achievement in dance on Broadway. The awards were established in cooperation with Fred Astaire, who starred in ten Broadway musicals along with his sister Adele between 1917 and 1931. During the ceremony, the Astaire Awards paid tribute to the career and work of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon, and featured performances of signature Fosse numbers.

Wilkerson is a veteran of Broadway.com's Gotta Dance! series. To hear her talk about her life as a dancer and pose in an exclusive photo gallery, click here.