8/23/25 O&A NYC MEET THE ARTIST: Sekou Tepaka Lunda Conde – Muntu Dance Theater

By Walter Rutledge

Lights! Camera! Action! The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project’s Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions is finally here. This Black dance extravaganza will that place tonight, August 23, 6pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance. Continue reading

8/19/25 O&A NYC DANCE: The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project And Dr. King’s Beloved Community

By Walter Rutledge

The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) will present Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions on Saturday August 23, 6pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street). Co- Directors Kevin Iega Jeff and Mashaune Hardy in coordination with co-curators Gary Abbott and Jeff have assembled a cast of ten of Chicago’s most exciting and progressive dance companies. This production will put meaning/message to movement for a transformative evening celebrating the city’s Black dance excellence. It will also emphasize the historic impact of Black dance on the cultural identity of the city of Chicago. Continue reading

8/16/25 O&A NYC DANCE: The Era Footwork Crew – Chicago’s Urban Terpsichoreans

By Walter Rutledge

Los Angles urban dance warriors perform Krump, Memphis dancers have the Juke, New Yorkers are Flexn and Chicago homies dance Footwork. Footwork music began evolving in Chicago in the early 90s, drawing on Ghetto House and Juke but adding complex layers of odd, almost compulsively frenetic rhythms; it grew hand in hand with the athletic, high-octane dance style that shares its name.

The dance/theatre urban storytelling style is accompanied by original lyrics and music tracks that reflect social justice, inequality and systemic racism. For over ten years Chicago’s Era Footwork Crew has introduce Footwork to the urban “dance battles” and the greater international dance community. Era Footwork Crew continues to make the urban dance style as synonymous to Chicago’s cultural identity as Deep-Dish Pizza. These Urban Terpsichorean will be part of the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) in Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions, which will premiere Aug 23, 2025, 6:00pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street). Continue reading

8/14/25 O&A NYC DANCE: Kevin Iega Jeff and The Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project – Pedagogy. Community. Legacy

By Walter Rutledge

Life is an ever changing, ever evolving adventure. On the adventure life requires us to react, adapt and hopefully reinvent. Sadly, when we stop making history we become a part of history.

Kevin Iega Jeff continues to make history. His latest adventure is the Chicago Black Dance Legacy Project (CBDLP) in Unbound: Shattered Frames, Endless Visions, which will premiere Aug 23, 2025, 6:00pm at the Harris Theater for Music and Dance (205 E. Randolph Street).  Jeff is both the Co-Director (Mashaune Hardy Co – Director) and Co- Curator (Gary Abbott Co – Curator) of this production, which promises to be evening of Black Dance excellence. CBDLP unites ten Chicago dance companies for an evening of diverse and artistically/socially relevant performances. Continue reading

4/4/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: A Conversation With Micah Bullard

By Walter Rutledge

Shall We Dance Friday

Houston, Texas native Micah Bullard is living his dream. The twenty-six-year-old dancer will perform with the Dance Theatre of Harlem April 10 through April 14 at New York City Center. This New York City season begins his fourth year with the company.  Recently O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge and Bullock sat down to discuss the upcoming season, his early training and being an African American male who dances ballet. Continue reading

2/8/24 O&A NYC DANCE PREVIEW: Tommie Waheed Evans- Philadanco

Congratulations to choreographer Tommie Waheed Evans! His latest work for Philadanco Somewhere Between Heaven and Earth has its New York City this week, February 6th through February 10 January 10th at the Joyce Theater. Continue reading