The Luther Vandross Estate has released a brand-new music video for A House Is Not a Home to preview a major collaboration with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Continue reading
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Tag: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
6/17/26 O&A NYC BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Hymn Conversation
By Walter Rutledge
On June 4 at a group of former Ailey dancers sat down to discuss the recent reconstruction of Judith Jamison’s Hymn for the Ailey company’s four-day spring series at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The dancers were part of the original cast of Hymn and had participated in the new remounting of the work, while also coaching the dancers in the present Ailey company. What was apparent from the beginning of the discussion was their willingness, enthusiasm and what can only be described the sheer joy in sharing their experiences with the dancers and now the public. Continue reading
5/11/26 O&A NYC BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Sneak Preview of Pressure – A Work in Progress By Christopher Huggins For JGDC
By Walter Rutledge
On Thursday April 30th Brooklyn North High Schools (BKNHS) held an Arts Professional Development Day at the New York City College of Technology. The day of networking, pedagogy, workshops and performance was the third of a four-part series moderated by Superintendent Dr. Russell White and conducted by members of the Jamel Gaines Dance Company (JGDC) and Artistic Director Jamel Gaines. One of the highlights was a dance performance by JGDC (yes, a 5-6-7-8 at 9am). The enthusiastic audience of educators were treated to a sneak preview of Pressure a work-in-progress by choreographer Christopher Huggins. Continue reading
1/16/26 O&A NYC DANCE BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: THE HOLY BLUES INTERVIEW – Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro
“My roots are also in the Gospel church, the Gospel churches of the south where I grew up…holy blues—paeans to joy, anthems to the human spirit.” These words written by Alvin Ailey were the impetus for The Holy Blues, a collaborative choreographic endeavor by choreographer Jawole Willa Jo Zollar and emerging dancemakers Samantha Figgins and Chalvar Monteiro. Continue reading
1/5/26 O&A NYC HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALVIN AILEY!: Alvin Ailey 1985 Cairo Interview (Historic Stock Video Footage)
Today, January 5 is the 95th 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 talks about his life, his dance school, the motivational forces behind his choreography and theories of dance. Continue reading
12/26/25 O&A NYC DANCE BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Cry – Deborah Manning
In 1971, Alvin Ailey created Cry, one of his signature dance works, as a birthday present for his mother Lula Elizabeth Ailey. Ailey dedicated the ballet to “all black women everywhere — especially our mothers.” The three-part ballet, set to contemporary music by Alice Coltrane, Laura Nyro and Chuck Griffin, depicts a woman’s journey through toil to an ecstatic state of grace. Cry premiered at New York City Center on May 4, 1971. Continue reading
12/25/25 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: The Voices of East Harlem – Right On Be Free
The Voices of East Harlem was an African American vocal ensemble that originated in an inner-city action project in East Harlem, New York City. The song Right On, Be Free enjoys continued exposure as the last movement of Alvin Ailey‘s masterwork Cry. Continue reading
12/24/25 O&A NYC BLACK FACTS: Judith Jamison – Sunday Morning CBS – AAADT at 60 (2019)
In this CBS Sunday Morning report that originally aired August 11, 2019, on the occasion of the dance group’s 60th anniversary, correspondent Rita Braver talked with dance icon and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Judith Jamison and her succeeding artistic director Robert Battle.
Continue reading
12/24/25 O&A NYC BLACK FACTS: Judith Jamison – Sunday Morning CBS (2019) AAADT at 60
In this CBS Sunday Morning report that originally aired August 11, 2019, on the occasion of the dance group’s 60th anniversary, correspondent Rita Braver talked with dance icon and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Artistic Director Judith Jamison and her succeeding artistic director Robert Battle.
Continue reading
12/18/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Perform On Tamron Hall Show
Artistic Director Alicia Mack introduces the Wade In The Water section of Alvin Ailey’s Revelations. Kudos to Solomon Dumas, Hannah Alissa Richardson and Isabel Wallace-Green. Continue reading
