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’

Shall We Dance Friday

 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

11/10/24 O&A NYC IN MEMORIAL: Judith Jamison (1943- 2024) Revelations Excerpts (Hollywood Palace 1968)

  O&A NYC celebrates the life and Legacy of Judith Jamison. 

“She was a unique, spectacular dancer who was majestic and queenly. She danced with eloquence and integrity.”– Sylvia Waters 2009-02-27-judithjamisoninalvinaileysrevelationsphotobyaileyarchivesThe Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood Palace (1968). Continue reading

11/9/24 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WaleStylez: Ghana Traditional Drumming -Koffie Fugah and WALA Group

Ghanaian natives Robert Koffie Fugah (New Zealand based) and WALA Group (Australia based) perform traditional songs, rhythms and dances from their homeland Ghana Continue reading

11/9/24 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WaleStylez: Ghana Traditional Drumming -Koffie Fugah and WALA Group

Ghanaian natives Robert Koffie Fugah (New Zealand based) and WALA Group (Australia based) perform traditional songs, rhythms and dances from their homeland Ghana Continue reading

11/7/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dear Quincy- Carmen De Lavallade and Wesley Fata

Shall We Dance Friday

Carmen de Lavallade dancing to Quincy Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova” with Wesley Fata on November 16, 1968. Ms. de Lavallade’s late husband, the great Geoffrey Holder, choreographed this piece This is jut an excerpt of a much longer dance. Continue reading