7/10/26 O&A NYC DANCE BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: A Tribute to Erick Hawkins

By Walter Rutledge

A Tribute to Erick Hawkins, an informal showing of two solos by Gloria McLean and a work by Vienna based dancer/choreographer Bert Gstettner will take place on July 16, 8pm at the Joan Weill Center for Dance, 405 West 55th Street in Studio 5D. These works are literal love letters expressing their admiration to a mentor dubbed by the dance community as “the great poet of modern dance”. Continue reading

7/10/26 O&A NYC IRIE FRIDAY: Sizzla Kalonji Full Concert Live Show @ Reggae Roots Rotterdam Festival

Sizzla Kalonji delivered an unforgettable, high-energy headline set on Saturday, July 4, 2026, at the Reggae Roots Rotterdam Festival held in Zuiderpark, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Continue reading

7/9/26 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: The Jackson 5 – Forever Came Today

The Jackson 5 performed Forever Came Today live on the Carol Burnett Show, which was recorded in July 1975  and aired January 1976. The song was originally a 1968 hit by The Supremes, the Jackson 5 updated the track into a high-energy disco anthem for their final Motown studio album, Moving Violation.
Continue reading

7/8/26 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ HIP HOP WEDNESDAY: Drake – Whisper My Name

Whisper My Name is a hit song by Canadian Hip Hop artist Drake, released on May 15, 2026. It serves as a standout track on his ninth studio album, Ice Man, which arrived as part of a massive triple-album drop alongside Maid of Honour and Habibti. Continue reading

7/6/26 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Jorja Smith ft. Wizkid – Alive

Alive is a breezy, collaborative single by British artist Jorja Smith featuring Nigerian Afrobeats icon Wizkid, officially released on July 2, 2026. The track serves as the lead single for Jorja Smith’s highly anticipated third studio album, titled What Are The Odds, which is scheduled for release on August 21, 2026. Continue reading

 7/6/26 O&A NYC THE MORNING FUNNIES: Patriot Front- Episode 1 (New Sitcom) 

A masked white nationalist hate group rolls into Washington, DC with a grand plan to save America. Unfortunately, they can’t even handle the basic challenges of everyday life without turning it into an absurd disaster. Continue reading

7/5/26 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Inmate sings ‘I Trust in God’ inside Maximum Security Prison!

In a powerful moment of worship inside a women’s correctional facility in Nevada, God Behind Bars Music leads I Trust in God—but what happens at the end is something no one expected. As the room fills with faith, hope, and raw honesty, an inmate steps forward and takes the lead, boldly declaring her trust in God in front of everyone. Continue reading

7/4/26 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT 4TH OF JULY SPECIAL: Stars And Stripes – George Balanchine (1993)

The Pas de Deux and Finale of George Balanchine’s tribute to our flag and country, Stars And Stripes. He made this to the music of John Philip Sousa, orchestrated by Hershey Kay. Danced here by Margaret Tracey and Damian Woetzel.

Continue reading

7/4/26 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WALESTYLEZ PT.2: Black Sherif – Find A Way

Find A Way is a highlife-influenced single released by Ghanaian Afrobeat artist Black Sherif in June 2026. The song serves as a reflective anthem about resilience and the winning mindset. Continue reading

7/3/26 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Bob Fosse Dances From Sweet Charity – The Rich Man’s Frug 

A perfect example of a Frug is found in the movie Sweet Charity, which contains a number called “The Rich Man’s Frug”, a wildly energetic dance number comprising three “movements” (“The Aloof”, “The Heavyweight” and “The Big Finish”) that showcases director Bob Fosse’s distinctive choreography style, particularly his creative use of unusual poses, gestures, and arm movement.

The Frug (pronounced “froog”) was a dance craze from the 1960s that evolved from another dance of the era, the Chicken. The Chicken, which featured lateral body movements, was used primarily as a change of pace step while doing the Twist. As young dancers grew more tired they would do less work, moving only their hips while standing in place. They then started making up arm movements for the dance, which prompted the birth of the Swim, the Monkey, the Dog, the Watusi, the Mashed Potato, and the Jerk. The Frug is sometimes referred to as the Surf, Big Bea, and the Thunderbird.

Bob Fosse dance numbers – The Rich Man’s Frug