1/24/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ailey Celebrates Ellington

Shall We Dance Friday

Ailey Celebrates Ellington premiered in 1974 on CBS. Narrated by R&B legend Gladys Knight the television special showcases the collaborative bond between choreographer Alvin Ailey and jazz music royalty Duke Ellington. Continue reading

1/24/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks ( Act IV The Assassin)

Martin Act IV Assassination

The Fourth Act of Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks starring John Jones as Dr. King, Sheila Rohan as Rosa Park and James E. Murphy as the Assassin.

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1/22/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin- A Ballet by Gordon Parks- Act II March On Selma

Martin (Act 2) March On Selma (2)Act II from Martin: A ballet by Gordon Parks depicts the violent encounter with police during the march on Selma. Continue reading

1/21/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin: A Ballet By John Parks- Act 1

Martin Act 1 SHEILA ROHAN

Martin: A Ballet by Gordon Parks Act 1 Introduces John Jones as Martin Luther King, Sheila Rohan as Rosa Parks and James E Murphy as the Assassin. Continue reading

1/20/25 O&A NYC HAIL TO THE KING!: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks (Prelude)

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Martin: a ballet by Gordon Parks, an original five-movement ballet chronicling the struggles of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Filmed in 1990 the work stars John Jones as Dr. King and Sheila Rohan as Rosa Parks, featuring choreography by Real Lamb. “Martin” (PBS, 1990),  about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King. Parks served as executive producer, director, composer, keyboardist and documentary photographer for this boldly ambitious project. Continue reading

1/18/25 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Grace Jones Live- Stockholm June 16, 2024

To culminate the three days of Rosendal Garden Party you needed an artist that goes above and beyond and in 2024 this artist was no other than Grace Jones. Continue reading

1/17/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Happy Birthday Debbie Allen!!!

By Walter Rutledge


Happy Birthday to one of the dance world’s icons Debbie Allen. We had the opportunity to talk to Ms. Allen about a wide range of her life experiences from segregated dance classes in her native Texas, to heartless rejection and finally coming into her own in New York City. We pay tribute to a living dance legend and activist born on January 16th.- Walter Rutledge

In 2015 O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge interviewed Debbie Allen at the Faison Firehouse Theater for Dance Noir Magazine (DNM). The print article would discuss her relationship with Katherine Dunham. The video was produced as visual notes for the upcoming Dunham article. When the magazine suspended publication, out of respect for DNM Founder/Editor-in-Chief Carol Lloyd, we held the material with hopes of eventually printing the article for DNM. After eight years Ms. Allen’s words remain relevant, inspiring and informative and should be shared. We call this first installment Empathy. Continue reading

1/16/25 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: Comedian Trixx – African Dads Don’t Hold Back

1/15/25 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Donald “Dondi” White- NYC Graffiti Icon

Discover the life and legacy of Donald “Dondi” White, the NYC graffiti icon who revolutionized street art in the 1970s and 80s. Continue reading

1/13/25 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: Being MJ Blige -The Neighborhood

Beth Behrs and Tichina Arnold realize  you can really get away with anything when people think fame is attached to you. Go Mary! Continue reading