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

12/25/24 O&A NYC MERRY CHRISTMAS: March of the Wooden Soldiers

Babes in Toyland is a Laurel and Hardy musical film released on March 10, 1934. The film is also known by its alternate titles Laurel and Hardy in Toyland, Revenge Is Sweet (the 1948 European reissue title), March of the Wooden Soldiers and Wooden Soldiers (in the United States). Continue reading

12/25/24 MERRY CHRISTMAS: Diana Ross Christmas In Washington- White House Concert

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Christmas in Washington is an annual Christmas television special that currently airs on the U.S. TNT network. The 2102 show was hosted by Conan O’Brien and starred Diana Ross, Demi Lovato, Megan Hilty, Scotty McCreery, and Chris Mann.  Continue reading

11/30/25 O&A NYC SUNDAY AFTERNOON JAZZ CONCERT: Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite – Quantum Of The Seas Orchestra

On Christmas Eve, 2015, the Quantum Of The Seas Orchestra performed the entire Duke Ellington version of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite. Continue reading

12/20/24 O&A NYC IRIE FRIDAY: Shaggy – Jamaican Drummer Boy


Shaggy makes some island magic at this 2019 Disney “magical holiday celebration”. Continue reading

12/20/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Meet The First Black Star Of New York City Ballet’s ‘Nutcracker’

Shall We Dance Friday

 The 2024 New York City Ballet’s production of  The Nutcracker has cast Charlotte Nebres, a black dancer, to play Marie for the first time in the productions 70 year history. Continue reading

12/15 24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Go Tell It On The Mountain- Melvin Crispell III & Chandler Moore)

Go Tell It On The Mountain featuring Melvin Crispell III, Chandler Moore and the Maverick City Gospel Choir was written by John W. Work Jr. and Brandon Lake. It is from Maverick City Music’s 2021 Christmas Album, A Very Maverick Christmas. Continue reading

12/13/24 O&A NYC DANCE: A Conversation with Lloyd Knight -The Drama (A Self Portrait)

By Walter Rutledge

Lloyd Knight’s solo dance work, The Drama will have its preview public performances Friday, December 13, 7pm, and Saturday, December 14, 6pm, at the Martha Graham Studio Theater, 55 Bethune Street, 11th Floor, in Manhattan’s West Village/Meatpacking district. Commissioned by the Guggenheim’s Works & Process The Drama is being presented on conjunction with Fall 2024 Studio Series and will have it official premiere on January 13th, 2025, 7pm, at the Guggenheim Museum. Continue reading

12/6/24 O&A NYC IRIE FRIDAY: Morgan Heritage She’s Still Loving me – 2003 Live at Paradiso

“Taken straight from our Live in Europe DVD from 2003 She’s Still Loving me is one of our all time love songs, and often a crowd favorite when we perform live. You can find this song on our 2003 album entitled Three In One.” – Morgan Heritage. Continue reading