12/6/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: The Nutcracker Ballet- Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland (1977)

Shall We Dance

nutcracker-baryshnikov

During the 1977 Christmas season, CBS brought Mikhail Baryshnikov’s highly acclaimed American Ballet Theatre production of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Nutcracker to television. The production has remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the work in the U.S.  Mikhail Baryshnikov performed the title role, with Gelsey Kirkland as Clara.
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12/9/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: The Nutcracker Ballet- Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland (1977)

Shall We Dance

nutcracker-baryshnikov

During the 1977 Christmas season, CBS brought Mikhail Baryshnikov’s highly acclaimed American Ballet Theatre production of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Nutcracker to television. The production has remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the work in the U.S.  Mikhail Baryshnikov performed the title role, with Gelsey Kirkland as Clara.
Continue reading

11/29/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker (1968)

Shall We Dance

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This historic performance from 1968 captures choreographer/performer Rudolf Nureyev at the peak of his career. Filmed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the ballet features artists of the Royal Ballet including Wayne Sleep, Jillian Gibbs and Merle Park as Clara. Continue reading

11/21/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY:  Christine Shevchenko & Calvin Royal lll- Swan Lake Act 3 excerpts

 

Christine Shevchenko is Odile the black swan seductress and Calvin Royal is the poor duped Prince Siegfried  in excerpts from Swan Lake Act 3. Continue reading

10/3/24 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: BalletX at the Joyce

By Walter Rutledge

BalletX returned to the Joyce Theater September 25 thru September 29 for a second consecutive New York City season. The Philadelphia based contemporary ballet company offered an aesthetically satisfying concert highlighted by technically proficient performers and focused direction. The company presented a diverse program consisting of three ballets by choreographers Jodie Gates, Loughlan Prior and Takehiro Ueyama. Continue reading

  9/6/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alicia Graf/Donald Williams in Robert Garland’s Return

Robert Garland made the leap from principal dancer to emerging choreography with his 1979 company debut Return. Garland described the work as “post-modern urban neoclassicism – an attempt to fuse an urban physical sensibility and a neoclassical one.” Continue reading

8/16/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Unite- The Future Faces of Ballet

By Walter Rutledge

Unite, the Joyce Ballet Festival’s opening night performance was an eye-opening reveal of the face (or faces) of the future of ballet. The six-day, festival offers eight performances from Tuesday August 13 through Sunday August 18. Unite is an enlightening example of the growing and long overdue multicultural diversity and inclusiveness the artform so rightfully deserves. Continue reading

8/9/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Calvin Royal III and João Menegussi Perform Touche at Unite- Joyce Ballet Festival

UNITE the Joyce Theater’s Ballet Festival, August 13 through August 18, is curated and co-produced by American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III. One of the works to be presented, Touché, is a duet that explores the themes of male love.  Created by Chris Rudd the ballet features Royal III (Adam) and ABT Corps de ballet member João Menegussi (Steve). Continue reading

5/6/24 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: A Ballerina’s Tale

Ballerina Misty Copeland made history becoming the first African-American Woman to earn the position of Principal Dancer with the world renowned American Ballet Theater. Continue reading

4/7/24 O&A NYC DANCE: I Am Julie Caprio, Always and Forever a Harkness Dancer.

By Julie Caprio

Inspired by An American Ballet Story
It is truly amazing to me how Harkness continues to be a huge part of my life. After the NYC screening of An American Ballet Story, a documentary by Leslie Streit and Robin McCain about the Harkness years, my Facebook friend Keith Lee and I began this project. Keith, an extraordinary artist who has had a beautiful career including being a soloist with American Ballet Theatre was also a Harkness Trainee. Continue reading