Derek Hough, Neil Patrick Harris, Napoleon and Tabitha D’umo, Sonya Tayeh, Travis Wall, Kathryn McCormick, and Mandy Moore and others, prepping for the Emmys

It’s one small step for the Emmys, one grand jeté for the commercial dance world: This year, for the first time ever, the Emmy Award for Outstanding Choreography will be presented as part of the event’s live broadcast. Furthermore, the eight nominated choreographers have been invited to create the evening’s main dance number, featuring TV’s best host ever, Neil Patrick Harris. (Seriously. Remember the Tonys?) This means Derek Hough, Allison Holker, Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, Travis Wall, Tabitha and Napoleon D’umo and Broadway’s Warren Carlyle (who choreographed Carousel for PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center) have been working together on one epic showstopper. According to TV Guide, the artists have attempted to meet once a week, convening other times by Skype and working alone on their individual sections. Tayeh also mentions “thousands of dancers” will be onstage for the performance. Whether that’s an exaggeration or not, we’ll have to wait to find out.

Are we in the midst of a new golden age for dance on camera? Signs point to yes, and Holker agrees. “The dance world has taken off and grown,” she says. “Just like it used to be in the Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly, Cyd Charisse time. I feel like that is our time now.”

Photo: Primetime Emmys