SCDT Artistic Director Jacob Montoya wins ELLY for "In the Heights"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jacob Montoya
President, Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theater
Jacob@SCDTheatre.org
Choreographer Jacob Montoya wins prestigious ELLY Award
October 11, 2015 – Sacramento, CA – Jacob Montoya has won the ELLY Award in Choreography for his work in the musical, “In the Heights”, produced and performed by the Green Valley Theatre Company. This annual regional awards program is sponsored by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance (SARTA) and Green Valley’s interpretation earned “In The Heights” 9 ELLY nominations and 7 wins, making it 2015’s most award winning Sacramento area production. Reprising this 2008 Tony Award winning musical, Montoya’s choreography expertly showcased the play’s themes involving self-discovery, family conflict, first love, and finding home, garnering him a mention in the coveted magazine Broadway World. This is the second ELLY Award win for the talented Montoya who in 2005 won Best Leading Adult in Young People’s Theater production ELLY Award for his turn as character Jean Valjean, a principal role in the musical Les Miserables presented by Magic Circle Theatre. As Founding Director of the Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theater (SCDT), Montoya also enjoyed recognition at the ELLY ceremony for his professional dance company’s rendition of “Pure Imagination” which opened the evening festivities.
About Jacob Montoya
Nationally recognized, award-winning choreographer, Jake Montoya, is a native of Sacramento, California where he continues to explore his gift for dance as a performer, teacher, and influencer in his community.
Montoya is trained in jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary and hip hop and studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he performed at Missy Cochran Entertainment and danced for the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre. His training includes the Horton Modern Technique and certification in Erick Hawkins Modern Technique. Montoya is the Artistic Director of the Hawkins Contemporary Jazz Company at Hawkins School of Performing Arts and is currently a teacher at Sacramento Theatre Company and Rio Valley Charter school. He has also served on the Staff for the Sacramento Ballet, Northern California Dance Conservatory. Montoya is well known for his contributions in the local arts community as a dancer with E:motion Dance Ensemble and with CORE Contemporary with his representation on their behalf at the World Jazz Dance Congress in Pennsylvania and the Palm Desert International Choreography Festival.
About SCDT
Founded by Jacob Montoya, Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theater, a group of talented professional dancers inspired by sharing their grace and athleticism with meaningful intent throughout the greater Sacramento Community. SCDT’s first concert, “Resilience”, will debut in December 2015 as a benefit performance for the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. www.SCDTheatre.org.
Media Contact:
Jacob Montoya
President, Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theater
Jacob@SCDTheatre.org
Choreographer Jacob Montoya wins prestigious ELLY Award
October 11, 2015 – Sacramento, CA – Jacob Montoya has won the ELLY Award in Choreography for his work in the musical, “In the Heights”, produced and performed by the Green Valley Theatre Company. This annual regional awards program is sponsored by the Sacramento Area Regional Theatre Alliance (SARTA) and Green Valley’s interpretation earned “In The Heights” 9 ELLY nominations and 7 wins, making it 2015’s most award winning Sacramento area production. Reprising this 2008 Tony Award winning musical, Montoya’s choreography expertly showcased the play’s themes involving self-discovery, family conflict, first love, and finding home, garnering him a mention in the coveted magazine Broadway World. This is the second ELLY Award win for the talented Montoya who in 2005 won Best Leading Adult in Young People’s Theater production ELLY Award for his turn as character Jean Valjean, a principal role in the musical Les Miserables presented by Magic Circle Theatre. As Founding Director of the Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theater (SCDT), Montoya also enjoyed recognition at the ELLY ceremony for his professional dance company’s rendition of “Pure Imagination” which opened the evening festivities.
About Jacob Montoya
Nationally recognized, award-winning choreographer, Jake Montoya, is a native of Sacramento, California where he continues to explore his gift for dance as a performer, teacher, and influencer in his community.
Montoya is trained in jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary and hip hop and studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas where he performed at Missy Cochran Entertainment and danced for the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theatre. His training includes the Horton Modern Technique and certification in Erick Hawkins Modern Technique. Montoya is the Artistic Director of the Hawkins Contemporary Jazz Company at Hawkins School of Performing Arts and is currently a teacher at Sacramento Theatre Company and Rio Valley Charter school. He has also served on the Staff for the Sacramento Ballet, Northern California Dance Conservatory. Montoya is well known for his contributions in the local arts community as a dancer with E:motion Dance Ensemble and with CORE Contemporary with his representation on their behalf at the World Jazz Dance Congress in Pennsylvania and the Palm Desert International Choreography Festival.
About SCDT
Founded by Jacob Montoya, Sacramento Contemporary Dance Theater, a group of talented professional dancers inspired by sharing their grace and athleticism with meaningful intent throughout the greater Sacramento Community. SCDT’s first concert, “Resilience”, will debut in December 2015 as a benefit performance for the UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center. www.SCDTheatre.org.
