1/18/26 O&A NYC HAIL TO THE KING!: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks (Prelude)

hqdefault

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. Martin Luther King. Parks served as executive producer, director, composer, keyboardist and documentary photographer for this boldly ambitious project. 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

1/13/26 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Teyana Taylor Wins Female Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture at Golden Globes Awards

Teyana Taylor won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Female Actor in a Motion Picture for her powerful role as Perfidia Beverly Hills in the film One Battel After Another, marking a significant career milestone at the 2026 ceremony. She dedicated her win to brown sisters and little brown girls, delivering an emotional speech emphasizing that their softness isn’t a liability and they belong in every room.  Continue reading

1/12/26 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Sounder – Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield and Kevin Hooks

Sounder (1972) is a film drama based on the 1969 novel by William H. Armstrong about a black depression era sharecropper family in Louisiana. The movie starred Cicely Tyson, Paul Winfield, and Kevin Hooks. Musician Taj Mahal composed the film’s blue-inspired soundtrack and appears in a supporting role. Continue reading

1/5/26 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: The Life of Alvin Ailey (January 5, 1931 – December 1, 1989)

Alvin Ailey revolutionized the world of dance by honoring the African American experience, but his journey was not without its struggles. O&A NYC Magazine honors the memory of one of dance’s most prolific pioneers on the anniversary of his 95th birthday. Continue reading

1/3/26 O&A NYC IN MEMORIAM: Kennedy Center Honoree Carmen de Lavallade

The legendary (Carmen de Lavallade) ballet dancer, choreographer and teacher, who is among the honorees being feted for their illustrious careers by the Kennedy Center nine years ago, talks with correspondent Rita Braver about bringing modern dance to new levels; her marriage to dancer-director Geoffrey Holder; and the bittersweet memories of a life danced to the fullest. Continue reading

1/2/25 O&A NYC Encore Performance: Diana Ross Live Ball Drop On Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2026

Music icon Diana Ross headlined Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2026, performing a career-spanning medley of hits in Times Square just before the ball drop to welcome 2026. Continue reading

1/1/25 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Vanessa Williams- Happy Days Are Here Again

What better way to start our New Year Celebration then with Vanessa Williams rendition of Happy Days Are Here Again.  Continue reading

1/1/26 O&A NYC DIVA ALERT: Diana Ross – 2025 Times Square ball drop (I’m Coming Out)

Diana Ross headlined the 2026 Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve celebration in Times Square on December 31, 2025. At 81 years old, the Motown legend led the countdown to the new year and performed a career-spanning medley of hits. Continue reading

12/29/25 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Miracle In Harlem (1948)

Miracle in Harlem (1948) is a independent American film known as a race film, featuring an all-African American cast. is a murder mystery melodrama with musical elements, considered one of the better films of its genre from that era. The cast in the all black cast included  Sheila Guyse as Julie Weston, Hilda Offley as Aunt Hattie, William Greaves as Bert Hallam (Julie’s boyfriend), Stepin Fetchit as Swifty, the handyman, Laurence Criner as Albert Marshall, and  vocalists Savannah Churchill, Juanita Hall, and the Lynn Proctor Trio. Continue reading