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
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Tag: choreography
1/23/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin Act III Letter From The Birmingham Jail
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
1/22/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Martin- A Ballet by Gordon Parks- Act II March On Selma
Act II from Martin: A ballet by Gordon Parks depicts the violent encounter with police during the march on Selma. Continue reading
1/20/25 O&A NYC HAIL TO THE KING!: Martin: A Ballet By Gordon Parks (Prelude)
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
1/17/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Happy Birthday Debbie Allen!!!
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 York City. We pay tribute to a living dance legend and activist born on January 16th.- Walter Rutledge
In 2015 O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge interviewed Debbie Allen at the Faison Firehouse Theater for Dance Noir Magazine (DNM). The print article would discuss her relationship with Katherine Dunham. The video was produced as visual notes for the upcoming Dunham article. When the magazine suspended publication, out of respect for DNM Founder/Editor-in-Chief Carol Lloyd, we held the material with hopes of eventually printing the article for DNM. After eight years Ms. Allen’s words remain relevant, inspiring and informative and should be shared. We call this first installment Empathy. Continue reading
1/16/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Jungle – Keep Me Satisfied
Directors Charlie Di Placido and J.Lloyd and choreographer Shay Latukolan bring you Keep Me Satisfied a fun music and dance video.
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1/11/25 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY: Gotan Project – Santa Maria (Del Buen Ayre)
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
1/7/24 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Judith Jamison- 22nd Kennedy Center Honors (1999)
Morgan Freeman introduces honoree Judith Jamison at the 22nd Kennedy Center Honors in 1999. Continue reading
1/3/25 O&A NYC DIVO ALERT: I Wanna Be Ready- Matthew Rushing
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
1/3/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Nureyev- Ballet’s Most Incredible Story
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 the Cold War, and unprecedented adulation as the most famous dancer in the world. Continue reading
