
Josephslegende (The Legend of Joseph), Op. 63, is a ballet in one act for the Ballets Russes based on the story of Potiphar’s Wife, with a libretto by Hofmannsthal and Kessler and music by Richard Strauss. Composed in 1912–14, it premiered at the Paris Opera on 14 May 1914. Continue reading
Category: Shall We Dance Friday
4/10/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dance Theatre of Harlem- Creole Giselle

Arthur Mitchell’s Creole Giselle performed by the Dance Theatre Of Harlem (DTH), and set the traditional story of Giselle in 1841 Louisiana broke barriers with this all African American adaptation. Continue reading
2/14/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Rainbow Round My Shoulder- Donald McKayle with Mary Hinkson
Donald McKayle’s 1959 masterwork, Rainbow Round My Shoulder, is acclaimed as a modern dance classic. A searing dramatic narrative, it is set on a chain gang in the American south where prisoners work, breaking rock from “can see to can’t see.” Their aspirations for freedom come in the guise of a woman, first as a vision then as a remembered sweetheart, mother, and wife. The songs that accompany their arduous labor are rich in polyphony and tell a bitter, sardonic, and tragic story. It was created for the Donald McKayle Dance Company, and has been in the repertoire of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Batsheva Dance Company and Dayton Contemporary Dance, among others. The cast in the video excerpt includes Donald McKayle and Mary Hinkson. Continue reading
3/16/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Excerpt of Banda with Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder (1957)
By Walter Rutledge


Geoffrey Holder’s Banda dance debuted in the 1954 Truman Capote/Harold Arlen musical House Of Flowers. Holder the Baron of The Cemetery (based on the Haitian Loa of Death Baron Samedi) received both a performer and choreographer credit in the program. The Broadway musical takes place somewhere in the West Indies during Mardi Gras weekend. Continue reading
1/3/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater- Revelations

Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations (1960), one of the most recognizable modern dance works, remains a powerful testament to the human spirit. This cast includes Marilyn Banks, April Berry, Kevin Brown, Gary DeLoatch, Ralph Glenmore, Deborah Manning, Renee Robinson and Dudley Williams.
12/27/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: I am Legend- Drew Dollaz

This video features Drew Dollaz 0ne of the Flex Pioneers. The video is a metaphor of how he views the world. Using the Concept from the Movie “I am Legend” and putting a dance twist to it. Music by BrunuhVille entitled In to Darkness and edited by ReemGrafix.
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9/20/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Richie vs Sage BattleFest 35

Richie vs Sage BattleFest 35
8/23/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Misty Copeland – The Arsenio Hall Show (Interview and Performance)
Misty Copeland literally leaped into the public consciousness through a well orchestrated and highly visible media campaign. Her performances with music icon Prince helped catapulted Copeland into the public eye. Continue reading
8/2/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Boogaloo Shrimp- An Urban Dance Legend

Michael “Boogaloo Shrimp” Chambers a dancer and actor known for his role as Turbo in the 1984 film Breakin and the sequel Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Continue reading
7/19/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Kyle Abraham- City Hall (5/15/18)

Choreographer/dancer Kyle Abraham takes us on a funky stroll through downtown Manhattan near City Hall to the music of Bosq Featuring Evan Laflamme. Continue reading






