11/7/18 O&A NYC DANCE: Bill Bojangle Robinson – Stair Dance from Harlem Is Heaven (1932)

The Stair Dance featured in Harlem Is Heaven (1932): one of the first movies to ever feature an all-black cast, this film also boasts one of the earliest recorded versions of Bill Robinson’s famous stair dance routine, where he tapped up and down two flights of five steps joined by a shared platform. Continue reading

11/3/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Viengsay Valdes And Brooklyn Mack- Diana And Acteon

For Brooklyn Mack, a principal dancer at The Washington Ballet, it is a dream come true: performing in the land of his ballet idol Carlos Acosta, one of the outstanding stars of the Royal Ballet of London.

Mack is one of over 20 U.S. based dancers who participated in the 24th International Havana Ballet Festival,  October 28th through Friday, November 7th, 2014. 

Viengsay Valdes & Brooklyn Mack – Diana & Acteon

10/30/17 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Coming To America (1988)- Paula Abdul Choreography

Paula Abdul talks about choreographing Coming To America, “This was one of my moments of having to really prove myself, because I was still pretty new in my career as a choreographer. John Landis, the director, wanted the person that choreographed Janet Jackson. I was still a Laker Girl. I went in and he looked at me and said, ‘What are you, a teenager?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am!’ Continue reading

10/28/17 O&A NYC IT’S SATURDAY ANYTHING GOES EXTRA- DANCE: Top 20 Soul Train Dancers of All Time

Soul Train dancers taught the world how to boogie in platform shoes, a huge Afros and bell bottom polyester pants while looking very so cool. The alumni include Shalamar members Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, and let’s not forget the Asian girl.  Continue reading

10/28/17 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WaleStylez: Top 10 Best Traditional African Dances

African traditional Dances refers mainly to the dances performed by the cultural communities found in continent. Communities use these dances to teach, to socialize, ceremonies and for celebrating festivals and moaning funerals while Some dances are exclusively used for spiritual or religious practices. Continue reading

10/25/17 O&A NYC DANCE: Ailey Releases Short Film Created In Paris

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers appear in Rue Montorgueila joyful short film shot on the Parisian streets.  Ailey company members performed with local dancers and people of different backgrounds, talents and nationalities and it was released on October 24- United Nations Day

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10/17/17 O&A NYC DANCE/ HEALTH AND WELLNESS: The Dance of The Village Elders Leap Forward With Fitness

The Dance of The Village Elders resumed classes at St. Phillips Episcopal Church (204 west 134th street) in early September. After a few weeks of getting back “in step” strength/resistance training was added to the weekly dance and fitness regiment. “CoCo (aka Coline) mentioned that she had joined a gym and wanted some advice on using free weights properly. Based on the conversation we decided to add strength and resistance training to our class”, states director Walter Rutledge. “We chose the resistance bands because they provide an efficient way to build and strengthen muscles without adding undue stressing the joints and ligaments.”

The 90-minutes class presently takes place on Thursday afternoons beginning at 2pm. It incorporates stretching and breathing, calisthenics, aerobics and dance/choreography. The class is “senior specific” designed to encourage and assist each individual reach their personal best.

More important Dance Of The Village Elders addresses the challenges associated with aging such as loss of motor skills, hand eye coordination, short-term memory,  and mobility and balance issues. The classes are offered free to the public. Dance Of The Village Elders will present their holiday fellowship fundraiser on Thursday December 14, 6pm at St. Phillips Episcopal Church. For more information contact Walter Rutledge at (917) 744- 2601.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10/17/17 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: High End- Chris Brown Featuring Future, Young Thug

Chris Brown’s newest single, High End featuring Young Thug and Future, is the latest in a series of new tracks from the R&B star. His eighth studio album, Heartbreak On A Full Moon, slated for release on October 31 via RCA Records. Continue reading