For the first time in the competitions history, all three top prizes for choreographic excellence (A.C.E.) were awarded to women. The 2012 festival winners include Melinda Sullivan ("So You Think You Can Dance" season 7 finalist), first runner-up Dana Foglia (dancer and choreographer for Beyoncé) and second runner-up Bree Hafen (artistic director, Positive Space), who each received a grant and one year to produce their work.

The winners conducted additional self-funding via Kickstarter campaigns and each have two evenings dedicated to their work.

The four evenings of dance will be divided between the award winners. The Melinda Sullivan Dance Project will be held Aug. 5-6 at 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM, and Dana Foglia Dance Company & Bree Hafen's Positive Space will be held Aug. 7-8 at 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM.

Now in its fifth season, "the Capezio A.C.E. Award competition has between 150 to 250 applicants submit work every year, representing all styles of dance from tap, jazz, ballet, modern to musical theatre," according to press notes. "The top 15 are selected to come to New York and present their work at The Dance Teacher Summit. A panel of representatives from Capezio, Dance Teacher Summit, Dance Spirit Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine and the dance industry deliberate to select three pieces to be expanded into a full-length show."

"The Dance Teacher Summit is committed to featuring emerging choreographers who foster the art of dance," said Katy Malone, director of the Dance Teacher Summit, in a statement. "To further this goal, the Summit is proud to partner with Capezio to host the annual A.C.E. Award competition to introduce these talented dancers to the concert and theatrical world. For most young dancers, teachers and choreographers, it is too expensive to self-produce their work. We are thankful for the generous contributions Capezio makes to help artists begin their careers and look forward to sharing these groundbreaking new works with dance and new audiences." The Capeizo A.C.E. Award Winners Festival is produced by Dance Teacher Summit and Break the Floor Productions, LLC.

Ailey Citigroup Theater is located at 405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue. For more information and tickets, visit DanceTeacherSummit.com/ACEAwards.