Montrealer who plays Billy Elliot wins dance award

Montreal teen David Alvarez and the two young actors with whom he shares the role of Billy Elliot on Broadway have won Astaire Awards.

The three Billy Elliots danced off with the award for best male dancer on Broadway Tuesday in New York. The Fred & Adele Astaire Awards recognize excellence in dance on stage and screen.

Alvarez, whose background is in ballet, shares the role with Trent Kowalik and Kiril Kulish.

The Montreal15-year-old competed with 1,500 other boys to get the role of a boy growing up in a British mining town who wants to be a dancer.

Billy Elliot the Musical was a hit in London's West End before coming to Broadway last fall.

Choreographer Peter Darling won the Astaire Award for best Broadway choreography.

The Billy Elliot trio are also nominated for a Tony Award this Sunday.

Other Astaire Awards went to:

• Best female dancer Pia Glenn in the role of Condoleezza Rice in You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush.
• Best film choreographer: Longines Fernandes for Slumdog Millionaire.