Herbie Hancock and his band perform cuts from the albums Man-Child and Secrets: 1. Hang Up Your Hang Ups (from Man-Child, 1975) 2. Gentle Thoughts (from Secrets, 1976) 3. Spider (from Secrets, 1976). Continue reading
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Category: Black History
1/10/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Earl “Snake Hips” Tucker
Earl “Snakehips” Tucker was an African American dancer and entertainer. Also known as the “Human Boa Constrictor”, he acquired the nickname “snakehips” via the dance he popularized in Harlem in the 1920s called the “snakehips” Continue reading
1/7/24 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Judith Jamison- 22nd Kennedy Center Honors (1999)
Morgan Freeman introduces honoree Judith Jamison at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. Continue reading
1/5/25 O&A NYC HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALVIN AILEY!: Alvin Ailey 1985 Cairo Interview- Historic Stock Video Footage
Today, January 5 is the 94th birthday of choreographer Alvin Ailey. O&A NYC shares rare video footage from a 1985 interview. The one-way dialogue between Alvin Ailey, founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater took place in Cairo, Egypt. (Note: We only hear Ailey’s answers; not questions asked). He talks about his life, his dance school, the motivational forces behind his choreography and theories of dance. Continue reading
1/1/25 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Matthew Rushing- Sacred Songs
By Walter Rutledge
The 2024 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s (AAADT’s) New York City Center fall season presented four premieres by two former company members Hope Boykin and Jamal Roberts, master choreographer Lar Lubovitch, and AAADT Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing. Rushing’s Sacred Songs, an ensemble work with an interesting twist, is set to the music edited from the original version of Alvin Ailey’s and AAADT’s signature work Revelations. Sacred Songs it made its debut on December 20th, was the last of the four new works to premiere, and it was worth the wait. Continue reading
12/29/24 O&A NYC SUNDAY SCHOOL: The Birth of Christ (Animated Bible Movie)
Judah Stretch Animation‘s bible movie Birth of Christ gives young audiences a version of the Nativity like never before experienced. Continue reading
12/28/24 O&A NYC MILESTONE: Happy 70th Birthday Denzel Washington
O&A NYC would like to celebration the 70th Birthday of actor, philanthropist, and role model Denzel Washington. Whose life and career has enriched the lives of untold individuals. The Mount Vernon native remembers his roots and the people and places that shaped his life. Washington spoke about his days as a Club kid at the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. He credited the time he spent there and the mentoring he received from caring staff as key to his survival and success. In honor of this milestone we present a soliloquy from Malcolm X.
Malcolm X (Denzel Washington) delivers a powerful speech about how Black people have been led astray by politicians in America. From the 1992 biographical film from director and co-writer Spike Lee, starring Denzel Washington, Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr. and Delroy Lindo. Happy Birthday to a prolific man in the arts. Continue reading
12/27/25 O&A NYC DANCE/MILESTONES: Happy Birthday Joan Myers Brown!
By Walter Rutledge
Happy Birthday Joan Myers Brown! The nonagenarian dance icon was born on Christmas Day ninety three years ago in her beloved Philadelphia. Even as a child Brown understood the disparities between American of African decent and the local whites; and she wanted to shatter the social barriers prohibiting her people from becoming famous in the world of dance. In 1960 Brown established the Philadelphia School of Dance. The school was so successful she formed a dance company in 1970. Now fifty four years later the Philadelphia Dance Company aka Philadanco and Joan Myers Brown are world renowned. Below is a 2019 article prior to Brown receiving the 2019 New York Dance and Performance Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance, and video conversation with Brown and dance scholar Brenda Dixon Gottschild.
“Happy Birthday Aunt Joan”
Love,
Walter Continue reading
12/20/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Meet The First Black Star Of New York City Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’
The 2024 New York City Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker has cast Charlotte Nebres, a black dancer, to play Marie for the first time in the productions 70 year history. Continue reading
12/6/24 O&A NYC IRIE FRIDAY: Morgan Heritage She’s Still Loving me – 2003 Live at Paradiso
“Taken straight from our Live in Europe DVD from 2003 She’s Still Loving me is one of our all time love songs, and often a crowd favorite when we perform live. You can find this song on our 2003 album entitled Three In One.” – Morgan Heritage. Continue reading
