5/17/25 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY- ANYTHING GOES: Labelle in Concert 1975

Labelle was a three member band that originated out of the Blue Belles, a girl group who were a popular vocal group  of the 1960s and 1970s. Continue reading

5/8/25 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY- MOTHER’S DAY SPECIAL: I’ll Always Love My Mama- The Intruders

I’ll Always Love My Mama is a 1973 single by the Philly soul group The Intruders. Released from their album Save the Children, the single is a song commonly played on Mother’s Day. Continue reading

5/4/25 O&A NYC DANCE PREVIEW: THPAC’s A Ramp To Paradise Returns

 The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC) will present A Ramp To Paradise on June 27 and 28, 2025 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater,405 west 55th Street. The dance theater work is the brainchild of THPAC executive chairman Alex Smith, Jr. and is based on the short story A Ramp To Paradise conceived and written by Smith. The story centers around a group of friends who attend the famed 1980’s underground dance club-The Paradise Garage. Continue reading

4/22/25 O&A NYC REVIEW: Macbeth in Stride

By Walter Rutledge

For those of us that believe “Hell has no fury like a women scorned”. And for those of us who know firsthand you do not mess with a Black woman who “ain’t feeling it”. Leave your Elizabethan mindset at home and head to the Harvey Theater to experience MacBeth in Stride – Shakespeare from a sistah’s point of view. Written and performed by Obie- Award winner Whitney White the production takes Shakespeare and female empowerment to a new level. This soulful contemporary rendition of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth runs for only five remaining performances through April 27 at the Harvey Theater located at 651 Futon Street in downtown Brooklyn. Continue reading

4/14/25 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Dance Theatre of Harlem

By Walter Rutledge

The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) presented their New York City season April 10th through April 14th at New York City Center. The four-day four-performance season featured works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jodi Gates, and DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland. The evening presented four abstract works in the Contemporary Ballet, Neoclassic and Garland’s own Harem Swag styles. There was a lot of admirable dancing presented but little theatre offered. Continue reading

3/26/25 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ DANCE PARTY: The Royal Family – Nationals 2018 (Guest Performance)

The Royal Family a dance crew from The Palace Dance Studio in New Zealand, performed a guest performance at the Hip Hop International New Zealand Nationals in 2018, choreographed by Parris Goebel Continue reading

3/21/25 O&A NYC IRIE FRIDAY: Vybz Kartel – Amout

Vybz Kartel, is a Jamaican dancehall musician. He has also been credited as an inspiration for the dancehall-infused work of a number of Western artists, including Drake, who has cited Kartel as being one of his biggest inspirations. Continue reading

3/15/25 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: Darius Bennett – The Best Dating Advice

Darius Bennett is originally from Detroit, Michigan who bought a spur of the moment one way ticket to LA in the middle of the night and has never looked back. He can currently be seen on Netflix’s “Introducing…” along with Just For Laughs new faces. Continue reading