Morgan Freeman introduces honoree Judith Jamison at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. Continue reading
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Category: Event
1/6/25 O&A NYC WITH WALESTYLEZ FASHION SPECIAL: Ralph Lauren becomes First Fashion Designer To Win Medal of Freedom
As US President Joe Biden’s term comes to a close his administration distributed eighteen Medals of Freedom at the White House on Saturday morning. Designer Ralph Lauren was one of the honorees, making him the first fashion designer to receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom.
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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
1/3/25 O&A NYC DIVO ALERT: I Wanna Be Ready- Matthew Rushing
Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing premiered his fifth ballet, Sacred Songs, for the Alvin Ailey American dance Theater (AAADT) on December 20, 2024. Today Friday, January 3, is the last opportunity this season to see this new work which uses the deleted music from the original production of Revelations. Continue reading
1/2/25 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: Alte Zachen – Rocka My Soul In The Bosom of Abraham (Howard A. Robert Arrangement)
Alte Zachen, Choreography by Nadav Zelner featuring dancers Réginald Lefebvre and Alessio Marchini set to Howard A. Robert renowned arrangement of Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham with costumes by Ofir Hazan.Ofir 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
12/28/24 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Beyoncé’s Christmas Day Halftime Show
Hope your Santa hat was fastened, because Beyoncé gave us the ultimate Cowboy Carter gift this Christmas. The superstar spread holiday cheer during Wednesday’s Halftime Show at the Christmas Day Texans-Ravens NFL game in her hometown of Houston, Texas, marking the first time Beyoncé performed songs from her hit 2024 album “Cowboy Carter” in front of a live audience. 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
