
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
Tag: Choreogaphy
11/10/25 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Hope Boykin – How Love Sounds – Paul Taylor Dance Company

The Paul Taylor Dance Company‘s New York City season opened on Tuesday November 4 at the New York State Theater in Lincoln Center for 20 performances through November 23. The opening night performance presented Paul Taylor’s Concertiana and Cascade, and the New York premiere of Hope Boykin’s How Love Sounds. That evening Boykin’s work programmatically felt like a culinary intermezzo, a refreshing palette cleanser between two Taylor classics; but on Thursday’s program How Love Sounds proved to also be a versatile audience pleasing closer. Continue reading
10/21/25 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Michael Jackson – Thriller

Thriller, Michael Jackson’s 1984 music video directed by John Landis and written by Landis and Jackson. Continue reading
1/18/25 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Grace Jones Live- Stockholm June 16, 2024
To culminate the three days of Rosendal Garden Party you needed an artist that goes above and beyond and in 2024 this artist was no other than Grace Jones. Continue reading
1/5/25 O&A NYC HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALVIN AILEY!: Alvin Ailey 1985 Cairo Interview- Historic Stock Video Footage
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 talks about his life, his dance school, the motivational forces behind his choreography and theories of dance. Continue reading
11/23/24 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Claire De Lune Wows Taylor Audience
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 at the Paul Taylor Dance Company. But after seeing the performance it would be remiss of me not to briefly mention the ethereal Clair de Lune.

The well curated program opened with Taylor’s masterwork Arden Court and closed with his Bach signature piece Esplanade. Two additional works by female choreographers Jody Sperling and resident choreographer Lauren Lovette completed the program. It was Sperling’s visually mesmerizing homage to modern dance pioneer Loie Fuller’s 1891 Serpentine Dance that wowed the audience.
Pianist Margaret Kampmeier’s rendition of Debussy’s impressionist chestnut Claire De Lune summoned dancer Emmy Wildermuth to open her gossamer like wings. Billowing swirls of fabric provided a lulling comfort to the eye; then a burst of cyclonic energy created a centripetal cylinder of fabric seemingly ten feet high that left us in awe. The works beguiling elegance and courageous simplicity make this tribute timeless. The spirit of Loie Fuller’s groundbreaking modern dance work dances once again in Clair de Lune.
The last opportunity to see Clair De Lune is the Saturday November 23 matinee. Unfortunately, some of you will see this commentary after the mid-day performance. So, O&A NYC would like to share a 2013 performance of the work by choreographer/performer Jody Sperling.
Claire de Lune- Jody Sperling
The Taylor Company ends its 2024 New York season with a special dance reunion where former company members perform with the present company in Esplanade. For more information and or ticket information visit https://paultaylordance.org/performances/newyorkseason/.
In Photo: Emmy Wildermuth in Jody Spering’s “Clair de Lune”
Photo by Whitney Browne
11/9/24 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WaleStylez: Ghana Traditional Drumming -Koffie Fugah and WALA Group

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
1/28/24 O&A NYC DANCE: Philadanco- “Philly’s Finest” Returns to New York’s Joyce Theater
By Walter Rutledge
Philadanco- the Philadelphia Dance Company returns to New York City’s Joyce Theater, February 6th thru February 10th, 2024. The highly anticipated four-day five performance series will present the works of four emerging choreographers of merit, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Nijawwon Matthews, Ray Mercer, and Christopher Rudd. Evans, Matthews and Mercer have history with Philadanco as company members and in Mercer’s case choreographer-in-residence. While Rudd has gained recent notoriety for the two works set on American Ballet Theater. Continue reading
1/15/24 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Dallas Black Dance Theatre
By Walter Rutledge
The Black Dallas Dance Company (BDDC) began a two-day performance series at the Joyce theater on January 11th, 2024. The series was part of the Joyce Theater‘s eighth annual American Dance Platform. Jacob’s Pillow Associate Curator Melanie George presented a trilogy of performances and performers with a roster including Jazz at the Joyce (1/9 and 1/10) Soles of Duende (1/11 and 1/14) and Dallas Black Dance Theatre (1/12 and 1/13). Continue reading
9/30/23 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Roberto Bolle and Misty Copeland – Romeo and Juliet

Misty Copeland (Juliet) and Roberto Bolle (Romeo) are joined by a stellar cast of dancers from the Teatro alla Scala in the 2016 production.
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