2/25/19 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: High Toned (1929)- Starring Buck and Bubbles

Buck and Bubbles were part of the amazingly talented cast of Blackbirds of 1930 along with piano virtuoso Eubie Blake and the magnificent vocalist Ethel Waters. While this revue is considered a landmark event in the history of black classical music, there is an awestruck need to be reminded that it only ran for a total of 26 performances, leaving Ford Lee “Buck” Washington and John W. Bubbles unemployed again. Continue reading

2/23/19 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY- EXTRA: Lil Buck Memphis Jookin – Kennedy Center (LIVE)

Charles Riley, better known as Lil Buck, performs a street dance called Memphis Jookin, that originated in Memphis, Tennessee alongside the emergence of “Buck” music in the 1990’s. Continue reading

2/22/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: We Sing, We Dance- The Nicholas Brothers Story

We Sing, We Dance the Nicholas Brothers Story, a 1992 Arts and Entertainment documentary about the life of the Nicholas Brothers.  In addition to interviews of  Fayard and Harold Nicholas the documentary features Mikhail Baryshnikov, Cab Calloway, Hammer, Gregory Hines, Maurice Hines, Dorothy Nicholas, Morrow Clarke Peters, Leonard, Reed, Max Roach, and Bobby Short. Continue reading

2/19/19 O&A NYC CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH- DANCE: Michael Jackson- Billie Jean (Outstanding Live Performance)


The King of Pop Michael Jackson is in great form in this live concert version of his classic Billie Jean. Continue reading

2/16/19 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY- ANYTHING GOES: Yanis Marshall Heels Choreography If- Janet Jackson (Kaytranda Remix. Featuring Stevie Dore)

Yanis Marshall, a French dancer and choreographer specializes in suggestive choreography of male dancers wearing high heels shoes.  Continue reading

2/11/19 O&A NYC DANCE/REVIEW: Camille A. Brown and Dancers- ink

By Walter Rutledge

Camille A. Brown and Dancers presented ink, February 5 through February 10,2019 at the Joyce Theater. The company of seven (Beatrice Capote, Timothy Edwards, Catherine Foster, Juel D. Lane, Yusha-Marie Sorzano, Maleek Washington  and Brown) moved courageously with a spartan attack and focus intent. The extremely audience friendly 70 minute one-act abstract narrative dance theatre work is the third and final installment of her dance/theatre trilogy about identity; which includes Mr. TOL E. Rance (2012) and BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play (2015). Continue reading

2/8/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Virginia Johnson in the Creole Giselle

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Arthur Mitchell’s Creole Giselle performed by the Dance Theatre Of Harlem (DTH), and set the traditional story of Giselle in 1841 Louisiana broke barriers with this African American adaptation.  Continue reading

2/1/19 O&A NYC DANCE: Serenade

Serenade, a beautifully filmed and danced performance of one of Balanchine’s most beautiful works. The leads are Darci Kistler, Kyra Nichols, Maria Calegari, Adam Luders, and Leonid Koslov. Continue reading

1/29/19 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Carmen de Lavallade’s Inspiring Women

Actress, dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade tells the story of her cousin, ballet dancer Janet Collins. “There are times in your life when you want to give up, but she never did,” de Lavallade says. Continue reading

1/17/24 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks Act V- Mourning Place

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