1/5/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Manon- The Royal Ballet- Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell (1982)

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Manon, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMilan, was his second three-act ballet as artistic director of the Royal Ballet. He based his scenario on the 1731 novel by the Abbé Prévost, L’Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. MacMilan had chosen Antoinette Sibley as Manon and Anthony Dowell as Des Grieux, giving them both a copy of Prévost’s novel to read in preparation for their roles. 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

8/18/17 (Repost) O&A NYC Shall We Dance Friday: Desmond Richardson- Lament and Encore Performance Precious Blood with Carmen de Lavallade

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Desmond Richardson is a dancer, co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet. He has mastered a wide range of dance forms including classical, modern, contemporary ballet and jazz making him one of the most recognized performers of his generation. Continue reading

8/4/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Carib Gold- Featuring Geoffrey Holder

Carib Gold (1956) featuring the first known film roles for both Geoffrey Holder and Cicely Tyson.   The film was filmed almost entirely in Key West, Florida, with locally-cast musicians, extras and largely African-American cast headlined by Ethel Waters. Continue reading

(Repost) 7/21/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE: John Bubbles- Cabin In The Sky

Cabin in the Sky is a 1940 American musical with music by Vernon Duke, Lyrics by John La Touche, and a musical book by Lynn Root. The musical premiered on Broadway at the Martin Beck Theatre on October 25, 1940. It closed on March 8, 1941 after a total of 156 performances. It was directed by Albert Lewis and staged by George Balanchine. The Broadway production starred Ethel Waters as Petunia Jackson, Dooley Wilson as Little Joe Jackson, Katherine Dunham as Georgia Brown, Rex Ingram as Lucifer Junior, and Todd Duncan as The Lawd’s General. Continue reading

7/14/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Legendary Tap Dancers Honor Sammy Davis, Jr. at Kennedy Center Honors (1987)

Legendary tap dancer Sammy Davis, Jr. received a special performance at Kennedy Center Honors (1987) by his legendary tap dance peers The Nicholas Brothers (Harold & Fayard),  Chuck Green, Jimmy Slyde, and ‘Sandman’ Sims.

LEGENDARY TAP DANCERS HONOR SAMMY DAVIS, JR. AT KENNEDY CENTER HONORS

6/16/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dudley Williams last Performance- Dance Of The Village Elders

By Walter Rutledge

Dudley Williams was a performing artist, and teacher and a friend. I often referred to him as the “Lyric Prince of Modern Dance” a moniker that he enjoyed. In reality Dudley was a fighter. And the bantamweight dancer was in a battle with time, he simply refused to let it stop him from dancing. Continue reading

5/19/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Happy Birthday Malcolm X- In Black and White

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”- Malcolm X Continue reading