Dance

Bedstuy Villians Dance Crew of Brooklyn, NewYork presents BSV God Of Bruk Up Dance Cypher with POBA, The Ghost, Storyboard P and Bookworm. Continue reading

 The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC) will present A Ramp To Paradise on June 27 and 28, 2025 at the Ailey Citigroup Theater,405 west 55th Street. The dance theater work is the brainchild of THPAC executive chairman Alex Smith, Jr. and is based on the short story A Ramp… Continue reading

EJ from Special Ops Crew (Brooklyn) versus Static (Connecticut) battle it out at Beastmode Dance League.  Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge For those of us that believe “Hell has no fury like a women scorned”. And for those of us who know firsthand you do not mess with a Black woman who “ain’t feeling it”. Leave your Elizabethan mindset at home and head to the Harvey Theater to… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) presented their New York City season April 10th through April 14th at New York City Center. The four-day four-performance season featured works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jodi Gates, and DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland. The evening presented four abstract works… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Houston, Texas native Micah Bullard is living his dream. The twenty-six-year-old dancer will perform with the Dance Theatre of Harlem April 10 through April 14 at New York City Center. This New York City season begins his fourth year with the company.  Recently O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge… Continue reading

The Royal Family a dance crew from The Palace Dance Studio in New Zealand, performed a guest performance at the Hip Hop International New Zealand Nationals in 2018, choreographed by Parris Goebel.  Continue reading

They Called Her Moses is Donald McKayle‘s story of freedom fighter Harriet Tubman. The cast includes Jacqueline Walcott, Robert Powell, Sylvia Waters, Arthur Mitchell, Kathleen Stanford, Donald McKayle and Carmen DeLavallade. Continue reading

The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC) is conducting a search for three choreographers for the upcoming 2025 season June 27th and 28th at the Ailey Citicorp Theater. THPAC will present A Ramp to Paradise an original work based on a short story by THPAC Executive Chairman Alex Smith Jr.… Continue reading

In the groundbreaking black version of Carmen Jones there is a wonderful club scene Gypsy Song -Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum featuring three sepia divas, Dorothy Dandridge, Pearl Bailey and Diahann Carroll. But there are at least three more present and future stars in the scene. As Carmen enters the club, the stunning… Continue reading

Tekno who has just dropped the official dance video for Pounds and Dollars we’re picking up some new dance moves. Continue reading

Stormy Weather is a 1943 film musical produced and released by 20th Century Fox. The movie is considered one of the best Hollywood musicals with an all African-American cast and serve to  showcase of some of the top African-American performers of the time. Continue reading

Wizkid keeps the Morayo album party going with the video for Kese (Dance).Boasting choreography aplenty and vibes in earnest, the clip adds an electrifying new chapter to Wizkid’s impressive videography.Boasting choreography aplenty and vibes in earnest, the clip adds an electrifying new chapter to Wizkid’s impressive videography. Continue reading

On February 27th 2025 The View honored Black women who have broken barriers. The segment highlighted the accomplishments of Judith Jamison, choreographer Alvin Ailey‘s muse.  Constance Stamatiou a member of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs Right On Be Free an excerpt from Cry in honor of this Black… Continue reading

Dorian BluPrint Hector was a contestant on season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance. His genre is Animation. Continue reading

Based on book series Black Boys Dance Too: Darnell Enters A Talent Show. In Black Boys Dance Too, 9-year-old Darnell faces the stigma surrounding dance as a girl’s only activity within his community. Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Camille A. Brown and Dancers presented an all too short New York season Wednesday February 5th thru Sunday February 9th at the Joyce Theater. The sold-out five-day seven performance run presented I AM the third installment in her Black Joy trilogy. As the curtain rose, and as… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet (JGCO) presented their New York City season February 13 thru 15 at Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Bam Fisher Fishman Space. The seventy minute audience friendly one act was more than a celebration of Black History Month; it is also a fitting tribute to… Continue reading

Amos Machanic, Jr. joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1996. During his 15 years with the company, Amos had the pleasure of traveling and performing across the globe and in 2010, he performed at the White House tribute to Judith Jamison. Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge  Keeping in the spirit of his credo, “create to communicate”, Kevin Iega Jeff has choreographed Homage for the Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet. Homage will be presented during Remembering, the company’s 30th anniversary season celebration February 13, 14, 15 at BAM Fisher Fishman Space in downtown Brooklyn. The… Continue reading

Harold Lloyd Nicholas (March 17, 1921 – July 3, 2000) was a tap dancer specializing in tap. Nicholas was the younger half of the tap-dancing pair the Nicholas Brothers, known as two of the world’s greatest dancers.  Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge The applause has subsided, curtain fallen and the house lights are at half during a brief pause between dances. Instinctively we peruse the program to find the bio of that one standout performer. In many cases that dancer’s initial training and nurturing did not happen in one… Continue reading

  Choreographer Alex Miedzinski presents Mercy, featuring the senior students (age 17-18 years) of the Performance Training Program. The work was performed at their 2023 End of Year Concert at Brent Street one of Australia’s premiere dance academies. Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet will commemorate the company’s 30th anniversary with a three-day New York City season Friday, February 13 through Sunday, February 15 at BAM Fisher Fishman Space. The season will offer Remembering, a program that reflects Gaines continued commitment to educate and enlighten the next… Continue reading

Hope, choreography by Paris Cavanagh presents dancers from Elite Company from the performance training program. The company is comprised of students aged 14-18 years. This performance took place during the 2023 end of year annual concert. Continue reading

Cardi B has launched a new series called Cardi Tries …., on Facebook Messenger and Instagram. In each episode, Cardi attempts to learn a new skill. In the premiere episode, world renowned choreographer Debbie Allen tries to teach Cardi ballet. At one point, Allen asks Cardi if she’s ever done… Continue reading

Nigeria 10 Most Incredible African Traditional Dance Moves. Nigeria has one of the best dance moves in Africa. These African traditional Dances refers mainly to the dances performed by the cultural communities found in Africa; Nigeria in this case. Continue reading

The final act of Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks takes place after the death of Dr. King . John Jones (Dr Martin Luther King) Sheila Rohan (Rosa Parks) and James E. Murphy (Assassin). Continue reading

Ailey Celebrates Ellington premiered in 1974 on CBS. Narrated by R&B legend Gladys Knight the television special showcases the collaborative bond between choreographer Alvin Ailey and jazz music royalty Duke Ellington. Continue reading

The Fourth Act of Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks starring John Jones as Dr. King, Sheila Rohan as Rosa Park and James E. Murphy as the Assassin. Continue reading

Martin Act III: Letter From The Birmingham Jail – Dr. King (John Jones) is arrested and while in jail he writes the now historic letter from the Birmingham Jail. With the help of Rosa Parks (Sheila Rohan) King is able to disseminate his message to the masses. Continue reading

House Party is a comedy film directed by Reginald Huldin. It stars Christopher Kid Reid and Christopher Play Reid of the hip hop duo Kid n Play in their film debut with Full Force and Robin Harris. Continue reading

Act II from Martin: A ballet by Gordon Parks depicts the violent encounter with police during the march on Selma. Continue reading

Martin: A Ballet by Gordon Parks Act 1 Introduces John Jones as Martin Luther King, Sheila Rohan as Rosa Parks and James E Murphy as the Assassin. Continue reading

Martin: a ballet by Gordon Parks, an original five-movement ballet chronicling the struggles of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. Filmed in 1990 the work stars John Jones as Dr. King and Sheila Rohan as Rosa Parks, featuring choreography by Real Lamb. “Martin” (PBS, 1990),  about the life of Dr.… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Happy Birthday to one of the dance world’s icons Debbie Allen. We had the opportunity to talk to Ms. Allen about a wide range of her life experiences from segregated dance classes in her native Texas, to heartless rejection and finally coming into her own in New… Continue reading

Directors Charlie Di Placido and J.Lloyd and choreographer Shay Latukolan bring you Keep Me Satisfied a fun music and dance video. Continue reading

Newcleus was an Electro and Hip Hop group that gained popularity in the early 1980s.The group was based in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.This dance clip is two crew battling out of a style called Break dancing. Continue reading

Gotan Project is a musical group specializing in neotango, electronica, and tango. Based in Paris (France), the trio features musicians Eduardo Makaroff  (Argentina), Philippe Cohen Solal  (French) and Christoph H. Muller  (Swiss), a former member of Touch El Arab. Their music inspires dance. Continue reading

Earl “Snakehips” Tucker  was an African American dancer and entertainer. Also known as the “Human Boa Constrictor”, he acquired the nickname “snakehips” via the dance he popularized in Harlem in the 1920s called the “snakehips” Continue reading

OG Regg Roc of the Ringmasters Dance Crew presents a dance short film Ivre Moine featuring Suzie Q. Regg Roc uses his style “Pauzn” within the Flexn community to tell a story of sanity vs insanity. Out and About NYC Magazine commends D.R.E.A.M Ring for an informative dance short film… Continue reading

Morgan Freeman introduces honoree Judith Jamison at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. Continue reading

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… Continue reading

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

Nureyev- Ballet’s Most Incredible Story is a striking and moving documentary from BAFTA nominated directors Jacqui and David Morris traces the extraordinary life of Rudolf Nureyev. From his birth in the 5th class carriage of a trans-Siberian train, to his dramatic leap to freedom in the West at the height of… Continue reading

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

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… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

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… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is now halfway through their 66th New York season at New York City Center. In the 18 remaining performances this season, which runs until January 5, the company will present 19 works by 12 choreographers. The fall/winter Ailey season has become… Continue reading

 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

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… Continue reading

During the 1977 Christmas season, CBS brought Mikhail Baryshnikov’s highly acclaimed American Ballet Theatre production of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Nutcracker to television. The production has remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the work in the U.S.  Mikhail Baryshnikov performed the title role, with Gelsey… Continue reading

During the 1977 Christmas season, CBS brought Mikhail Baryshnikov’s highly acclaimed American Ballet Theatre production of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Nutcracker to television. The production has remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the work in the U.S.  Mikhail Baryshnikov performed the title role, with Gelsey… Continue reading

Two similar style of dance within the Flexn community. Hat Tricks are being battled out between the two individuals Dru Da Barber and SoundCloud. Evil Xmas 10 is an event presented by Killed Or Be Killed League brought to you by King Hypa. Continue reading

Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations (1960), remains one of the cornerstones of modern dance works. It 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.  Continue reading

This historic performance from 1968 captures choreographer/performer Rudolf Nureyev at the peak of his career. Filmed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the ballet features artists of the Royal Ballet including Wayne Sleep, Jillian Gibbs and Merle Park as Clara. Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge There is no greater pleasure than attending a performance as just an audience member. No notes, no critique. I am one of many enveloped in a communal cocoon of darkness enthusiastically sharing the wonderment and power of the creative collective. Tuesday November 19th was one such occasion… Continue reading

  Christine Shevchenko is Odile the black swan seductress and Calvin Royal is the poor duped Prince Siegfried  in excerpts from Swan Lake Act 3. Continue reading

Memphis Jookin is a dance style that originated in Memphis, Tennesse in the 1980s and 1990s. It’s a blend of hip hop and modern dance that’s known for its intricate footwork, slides, glides, and toe stands. Continue reading

From the of the beginning of his meteoric rise to fame Michael Jackson has been dancing to the delight of his audiences worldwide.  Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge It’s Taylor Time! The Paul Taylor Dance Company began their New York City fall season on Tuesday, November 5th at the State Theater at Lincoln Center. The three-week, twenty-one performance season will offer eighteen works by seven dance makers including four world premieres by Robert Battle, Lauren… Continue reading

  O&A NYC celebrates the life and Legacy of Judith Jamison.  “She was a unique, spectacular dancer who was majestic and queenly. She danced with eloquence and integrity.”– Sylvia Waters The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood… Continue reading

Ghanaian natives Robert Koffie Fugah (New Zealand based) and WALA Group (Australia based) perform traditional songs, rhythms and dances from their homeland Ghana.  Continue reading

Ghanaian natives Robert Koffie Fugah (New Zealand based) and WALA Group (Australia based) perform traditional songs, rhythms and dances from their homeland Ghana.  Continue reading

Carmen de Lavallade dancing to Quincy Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova” with Wesley Fata on November 16, 1968. Ms. de Lavallade’s late husband, the great Geoffrey Holder, choreographed this piece This is jut an excerpt of a much longer dance. Continue reading

Laurent and Larry Nicolas Bourgeois professionally known as Les Twins, are French dancers, choreographers, producers, models, designers, and creative directors of their brand Eleven Paris. Continue reading

Fabulous Feet from the Broadway musical The Tap Dance Kid choreographed by Danny Daniels and featuring Alfonso Ribeiro, Hinton Battle and Company. This performance is from the 1984 Tony Awards.  Continue reading

Thriller, Michael Jackson’s 1984 music video directed by John Landis and written by Landis and Jackson.   Continue reading

Michael Jackson was a dance icon, and in this video, we’re diving into 5 Michael Jackson dance routines that are nearly impossible to copy! From the legendary Remember The Time to the jaw-dropping 2 Bad, we’ll show you why these moves are untouchable. Whether you’re a fan of MJ or… Continue reading

Straight Up by dancer and choreographer Paula Abdul from her debut studio album, Forever Your Girl (1988). Straight Up became Abdul’s first top-40 hit in the United States, eventually topping the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1989. Continue reading

Get ready for over 10 rounds of dance combos, freestyle solos and good vibes. So much original flavor at this year’s Red Bull Dance Your Style Weekender USA. Crews on both sides came ready to get down.Definitely worth the replay between Team USA vs. Team Africa! Continue reading

Vamp, starring Grace Jones and Chris Makepeace is a 1986 comedy horror film directed by Richard Wenk, and co-written by Wenk and Donald P. Borchers. Continue reading

The Zaouli dance is a traditional dance of the Guro people of Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast). It’s renowned for its vibrant, intricate footwork . Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge  The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) is one of the heartland’s preeminent dance companies. The company is fifty-six years young and has remained rooted in sharing the experiences of Americans of African decent through movement. This 2016 conversation with DCDC Artistic Director Debbie Blunden- Diggs took place… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge BalletX returned to the Joyce Theater September 25 thru September 29 for a second consecutive New York City season. The Philadelphia based contemporary ballet company offered an aesthetically satisfying concert highlighted by technically proficient performers and focused direction. The company presented a diverse program consisting of three… Continue reading

Cristian Cerezo and Wilson Munoz dance “Temo” by Orquesta Típica Victor, sung by Mario Pomar, at the 19th Lisbon Tango Festival 2023 in Lisbon, Portugal. Continue reading

By Alex Smith, Jr. Something very special is about to burst on the NYC cultural scene- Edges of Ailey.  The Whitney Museum’s groundbreaking, and multi-faceted interdisciplinary exhibit is a homage to the life and work of the legendary dancer, choreographer and humanitarian Alvin Ailey. This unique collaborative effort between the… Continue reading

The dance is called Girl Hunt Ballet from the 1953 film The Band Wagon directed by Vincente Minnelli. It is around 12 minutes long and is a mini-mystery dance. Fred Astaire plays Rod Reilly, a private detective and he is narrating his story, which is unfolding in the dance. Cyd… Continue reading

Baby Workout by Mr. Excitement aka Jackie Wilson from the album of the same name is about Wilson urging a girl to dance or work out all night long with him. Continue reading

Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert of Music featured guest artist, famed tap dancer Bunny Briggs. Briggs known as Duke’s Dancer had a smooth effortless style perfect for Ellington’s Come Sunday. Continue reading

Robert Garland made the leap from principal dancer to emerging choreography with his 1979 company debut Return. Garland described the work as “post-modern urban neoclassicism – an attempt to fuse an urban physical sensibility and a neoclassical one.” Continue reading

The iconic salon dance fight sequence choreographed by Otis Sallid from Spike Lee‘s 1988 musical comedy School Daze. Continue reading

Cosby Celebrates Ailey was a the 1989 Television Special that showcased the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. The show was recorded December 12, 1988 but not broadcast until over a year later. When the show finally aired it was as a tribute to Alvin Ailey who had died December 1,… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Alvin Ailey dancer emeritus Dudley Williams would have celebrated his 85 birthday on August 18th. And although time is a very fickle and forgetful mistress Dudley remains of one the stars of the “Golden Age” of the Ailey company. His name is synonymous with dancers and choreographers… Continue reading

  The best Hip Hop routines from the 16 seasons of So You Think You Can Dance. Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Unite, the Joyce Ballet Festival’s opening night performance was an eye-opening reveal of the face (or faces) of the future of ballet. The six-day, festival offers eight performances from Tuesday August 13 through Sunday August 18. Unite is an enlightening example of the growing and long overdue… Continue reading

UNITE the Joyce Theater’s Ballet Festival, August 13 through August 18, is curated and co-produced by American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III. One of the works to be presented, Touché, is a duet that explores the themes of male love.  Created by Chris Rudd the ballet features Royal III (Adam)… Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Happy Birthday renaissance man Geoffrey Holder. The dancer, actor, choreographer, director, visual artist and all around force of nature was born on August 1st, 1930 in Port of Spain; the capital city of the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Continue reading

Two of the best female dancers within their style battled it out at Red Bull Dance Your Style in Miami. Marie Poppins (Popping) versus Ivvy (Flexn) from Brooklyn, NewYork seeks who’s the best. Continue reading

With Evillene (Mable King*) dead, her powerful spells. Soon all her sweat shop workers and prisoners are free from her hold over them and “strip” way their hideous wicked witch skin. They all celebrate with Dorthy (Diana Ross), Scarecrow, (Michael Jackson), Tin Man (Nipsey Russell), and Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross*).… Continue reading

Regg Roc from Ringmasters Dance Crew relase his first single Ivre Moine, Regg drops off of a Flexn Forever (it’s not for everybody) Mixtape. Produced  By Art In Motion and  The D.R.E.A.M RING. Presented by the Ringmasters. Showcasing the style Pauzn. This is for a brother who I appreciate in… Continue reading

A programme note for “Promethean Fire” states that the ballet “examines a kaleidoscope of emotional colors in the human condition” and Leopold Stokowski’s three Bach arrangements suit the balletic action perfectly! Continue reading

Brazilian Dancer BBoy Samuka Is Called “The BEST!” by Sofia Vergara! Auditions AGT 2024 NBC. After receiving a leg amputation due to cancer, BBoy Samuka picked up dance, and it changed his life! See why the dancer from Brazil receives a 12/10 from Simon Cowell! Continue reading

By Walter Rutledge Memorial Day weekend maybe the unofficial start of summer, but in the Fort Green section of Brooklyn that weekend was the official start of DanceAfrica 47! The four-day festival celebrates the diverse cultures of Africa and their diasporic descendants. The area surrounding the historic Brooklyn Academy of… Continue reading

  Ghetto Kids are a Ugandan dance group made up of young people raised in the slums of Uganda. Despite coming from a poor background, the kids have made an impact on the world stage with their unique style of dance and creativity. Continue reading

Gerald ‘Bogle’ Levy aka Mr. Wacky, at Rose’s Corner, Kingston Jamaica 2005. Bogle was the first to make a name for himself as a Dancehall Dancer/Choreographer, who created as many dance moves, as moving as  many to dance.Bogle features on the video clip Weh Di Time, with Delly Ranks and… Continue reading

On November 21, 2022 Chris Brown shared a video clip on Instagram of a rehearsal for a tribute performance he had originally prepared for the American Music Awards in honor of the 40th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s Thriller (1982). Continue reading

Ain’t Nobody is by Funk band Rufus and R&B artist Chaka Khan. It was released on November 4, 1983 by Warner Bros., as one of four studio tracks included on their live album, Stompin’ At The Savoy. Continue reading

Vamp is a 1986 comedy horror film directed by Richard Wenk, co-written by Wenk and Donald P. Borchers, and starring Grace Jones and Chris Makepeace. Continue reading