Spencer Liff, Karen Olivo, Rob Ashford, Dave Scott & Tommy Tune Win Astaire Awards

Spencer Liff, Karen Olivo, Rob Ashford and Dave Scott were named winners of the 2007-08 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, the country's only honor for dance and choreography on stage and screen. They, along with Tommy Tune, winner of the first Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award, will receive their awards on June 2 at the Grand Ballroom of Manhattan Center Studios.

Liff, winner of the Best Male Dancer on Broadway, is the a member of the ensemble, assistant choreographer and dance captain for Cry-Baby. His Broadway credits include The Wedding Singer and Big, and he toured in The Will Rogers Follies and Oliver! His film credits include Across the Universe and Hairspray.

Olivo was named Best Female Dancer on Broadway for In the Heights. Her Broadway credits include Brooklyn and Rent and the off-Broadway production of Miracle Brothers.

Ashford is the winner of Best Choreography on Broadway for his Tony-nominated work on Cry-Baby and is also represented on Broadway with Curtains. He received Tony nominations for Curtains and The Wedding Singer and won a Tony for Thoroughly Modern Millie. His extensive London credits include Olivier Award-nominated choreography and/or direction of Evita, Guys and Dolls and Thoroughly Modern Millie. His Encores! credits include Pardon My English, Tenderloin, A Connecticut Yankee and Bloomer Girl.

Scott won an award for Best Choreography on film for Step up 2: The Streets. His other credits include Stomp the Yard, Accepted, Coach Carter, Weiners and You Got Served.

The 2008 nominating committee was comprised of Clive Barnes, Anna Kisselgoff, Wendy Perron, Sylviane Gold, Damian Woetzel and Douglas Watt. The gala awards evening on June 2 will benefit the Auditory Oral School of New York, which specializes in teaching deaf and hard of hearing children.