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

Shall We Dance FridayNureyev- 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

12/22/24 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Ailey Premieres by Boykin, Lobovitch, and Roberts

By Walter Rutledge

The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is now halfway through their 66th New York season at New York City Center. In the 18 remaining performances this season, which runs until January 5, the company will present 19 works by 12 choreographers. The fall/winter Ailey season has become one of New York City’s annual holiday traditions. Continue reading

11/10/24 O&A NYC IN MEMORIAL: Judith Jamison (1943- 2024) Revelations Excerpts (Hollywood Palace 1968)

  O&A NYC celebrates the life and Legacy of Judith Jamison. 

“She was a unique, spectacular dancer who was majestic and queenly. She danced with eloquence and integrity.”– Sylvia Waters 2009-02-27-judithjamisoninalvinaileysrevelationsphotobyaileyarchivesThe Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood Palace (1968). Continue reading

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

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

11/7/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dear Quincy- Carmen De Lavallade and Wesley Fata

Shall We Dance Friday

Carmen de Lavallade dancing to Quincy Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova” with Wesley Fata on November 16, 1968. Ms. de Lavallade’s late husband, the great Geoffrey Holder, choreographed this piece This is jut an excerpt of a much longer dance. Continue reading

10/30/24 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ DANCE PARTY: Top 5 Michael Jackson Dance Routines That Are Impossible To Copy

Michael Jackson was a dance icon, and in this video, we’re diving into 5 Michael Jackson dance routines that are nearly impossible to copy! From the legendary Remember The Time to the jaw-dropping 2 Bad, we’ll show you why these moves are untouchable. Whether you’re a fan of MJ or a dancer trying to learn, this breakdown will leave you amazed. Continue reading

10/5/24 O&A NYC IT’S SATURDAY: A Conversation With Debbie Blunden- Diggs, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company

By Walter Rutledge 

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) is one of the heartland’s preeminent dance companies. The company is fifty-six years young and has remained rooted in sharing the experiences of Americans of African decent through movement. This 2016 conversation with DCDC Artistic Director Debbie Blunden- Diggs took place during the company’s performances of Rainbow Round My Shoulder as guest artists with the Paul Taylor Dance Company at State Theater in Lincoln Center.

The company received a Bessie Award (The New York Dance and Performance Awards) that same year for Outstanding Revival for Rainbow. Blunden and I discuss the importance of keeping masterworks like Rainbow alive and on stage for the next generation of balletomanes. Her comments and commitment still ring true as DCDC become the first African American modern dance company to perform one of Taylor’s  signature masterwork Esplanade during the company’s 2024 Joyce Theater season October 2- 6. Continue reading

9/23/24 O&A NYC PREVIEW: Edges of Ailey at The Whitney

By Alex Smith, Jr.

Something very special is about to burst on the NYC cultural scene- Edges of Ailey.  The Whitney Museum’s groundbreaking, and multi-faceted interdisciplinary exhibit is a homage to the life and work of the legendary dancer, choreographer and humanitarian Alvin Ailey. This unique collaborative effort between the Ailey Dance Foundation and the Whitney has its official debut on Wednesday, September 25. Continue reading