Omari Wiles & Arturo Lyons Win Tony Award For Best Choreography

Ballroom icons Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons took home the 2026 Tony Award for Best Choreography for their work on "Cats: The Jellicle Ball," bringing ballroom culture to one of Broadway's biggest stages and earning one of theater's highest honors.

Earlier this week, acclaimed choreographers Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons won the 2026 Tony Award for Best Choreography for their work on “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.”

As they accepted their award at Radio City Music Hall, the duo expressed heartfelt thanks and reflected on the journey that led to their win.

Lyons opened the speech by noting they had written remarks to ensure no one was overlooked. Wiles called the moment “truly humbling.”

He went on to thank the American Theatre Wing, the Broadway League and Tony voters for the honor, adding, “I cannot believe I’m standing here.”

The pair also thanked their collaborators, producers and directors for their support throughout the production.

Ending the speech, Lyons thanked the ballroom community, saying, “Thank you, Ballroom. If it wasn’t for you, we would not be here.”

He noted their combined 30 years of experience in the ballroom scene — serving, battling and competing — before emphasizing that their win was not about competition, but celebration.

He also paid tribute to the choreographers and cast of Casa Jellicle Ball, praising them for their dedication and “blood, sweat, and tears.”

Following their onstage moment, Wiles and Lyons spoke with Jordan Fisher on the Tony Awards First Impressions Cam, reflecting on their win and what they would tell their younger selves.

“Keep dreaming,” Lyons said.

Wiles added, “Be consistent, know that you are your Jellicle of choice. This is amazing. A little boy from Senegal would have never thought this would be possible.”

Who are Omari Wiles and Arturo Lyons?

The Tony Award-winning duo are no strangers to the industry and have become prominent figures in the ballroom and dance communities.

Lyons, also known as NY Father Icon Arturo Miyake-Mugler, is a New York-based choreographer and DJ whose style blends hip-hop, vogue, reggae and street jazz.

He has choreographed for major showcases including The Carnival Choreographers Ball, Sybarite: Love Is Love and Dance Harlem, and produced the Off-Broadway production “Vogue 4 Your Life” in 2019, which highlighted ballroom culture.

He has also worked in television and live performance, serving as a choreographer on HBO Max’s “Legendary” and leading the House of Miyake Mugler to victory in Season 2.

Ousmane “Omari” Wiles is a Senegal-born African American choreographer, dancer and creative director known for his work in West African dance, vogue and contemporary styles.

He began training at age 6 in Senegal under his parents, who ran a dance company, and later expanded his practice to include hip-hop, house, jazz and modern dance.

A prominent figure in the ballroom scene, Wiles founded the House of Nina Oricci and serves as creative director of LES BALLET AFRIK, a company that fuses African, vogue, modern and house dance.

His choreography and performances have been featured with artists including Beyoncé, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Jennifer Hudson, and he has been recognized by publications including Dance Magazine and The New York Times.

What is “Cats: The Jellicle Ball?”

“Cats: The Jellicle Ball” reimagines Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1981 West End musical “Cats,” which was originally based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry collection “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.”

Directed by Zhailon Levingston and Bill Rauch, the production centers ballroom culture by recasting each cat as a competitor or judge in a Jellicle Ball.

The show first opened Off-Broadway at the Perelman Performing Arts Center on June 13, 2024. Following a critically acclaimed run, the production transferred to Broadway in 2026 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

The production was one of the night’s biggest winners at the 79th Tony Awards, earning honors including Best Direction of a Musical, Best Costume Design of a Musical, and Best Choreography.