5/26/15 O&A Dance: New Dance Documentary PS DANCE! Premiering on Tri-State Public Television

By Walter Rutledge

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PS Dance!, an inspiring documentary showcasing the profound effects of dance education in NYC public schools, will air on tri-state public television station NJTV on May 26 at 10:00 p.m. The television program has already aired May 15 on WNET (THIRTEEN), and May 17 on WLIW21. The full film will also be available for online streaming at THIRTEEN.org/specials. Continue reading

5/12/15 O&A DANCE BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Jamel Gaines – Unsung Hero

By Walter Rutledge

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When you check the resumes of performing artists, so many did not begin their training in large renowned institutions. They usually begin at a smaller local school in their hometown or neighborhood. In these nurturing environments teachers taught more than dance.

Often these unsung heroes wore many pairs of dance shoes. They were chauffeurs, loan officers, guidance counselors, math tutors, disciplinarians, landlords and surrogate parents. They provided free classes, that they called scholarship, without the luxury of corporate sponsorships to offset the expense. But for the most part they provided a safe haven, and a solid foundation; not just in dance but in life.  

Whether it was a converted storefront, a church basement, school gymnasium, or after school program, you couldn’t wait to get there because even after a hundred failed attempts eventually you knew you would the words “Yes that’s it” usually followed “Now do it again”. It was that teacher, that hero, who first saw that spark in your eyes, and helped you turn it into the raging fire in your soul. Every dancer has an Aunt Joan, a Madame Cugjet or Nikita Talin whose dedication, conviction and love helped mold their artistry. And even now their voices and wisdom still resounds from deep within. Jamel Gaines is one of these heroes.

Jamel Gaines and Members of Creative Outlet

For twenty years Gaines has given his time, talent and personal resources to develop young people into performing artists and contributing members of society. His tireless energy and ability to show young people how “To be the best you can be” has not diminished. On any given Saturday Gaines conducts his school at Junior High School 113, 300 Adelphi Street in Brooklyn.

The school is a model of the phrase “It takes a village to raise a child”. Parents volunteers escort children to and from classes. They also operate a lunch concession where children and parent can purchase a hot meal with leaving to building. School alumni teach classes, and the company, Jamel Gaines’ Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn, consists of budding talent developed at the school and returning former students who are either between professional gigs or on hiatus.

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On May 15 Jamel Gaines’ Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn will celebrate the 20th anniversary with a three-day season at Kumble Theater at LIU Brooklyn, One University Plaza, Brooklyn. The performance May 15, 16 and 17 will showcase works from the company’s repertoire including the world premiere of Bitter Sweet, set to the music of Roberta Flack, commissioned by 651 ARTS. For more information and tickets call or visit the Kumble box office at (718) 488 – 1624 or online at creativeoutlet.org.

5/6/15 O&A Dance: Chen Dance Center Presents newsteps

By Walter Rutledge

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Chen Dance Center presents its spring emerging choreographers series newsteps, May 7 through 9, 7:30 pm at the Chen Dance Center, 70 Mulberry Sreet, 2nd floor (corner Mulberry & Bayard in Chinatown). Founded in 1994 the bi-annual showcase, (held in the spring and fall) provides young dance makers the opportunity to present original works at different stages of development. The five choreographers were selected for the spring concerts are: Jonathan Breton, Hannah Cohen,  Bree Nasby, Janice Rosario, and Ashley Carter & Vanessa Martinez de Banos. Continue reading

5/5/15 O&A Dance: Jamel Gaines’ Creative Outlet Dance Theatre of Brooklyn Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Retrospective and World Premiere

By Walter Rutledge

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Jamel Gaines’ Creative Outlet will celebrate 20 years of artistic excellence in a retrospective of the Company’s most acclaimed work on Friday, May 15, 7:30pm, Saturday, May 16, 7:30pm, and Sunday, May 17, 3pm at Kumble Theater at LIU Brooklyn, One University Plaza, Brooklyn. Continue reading

5/4/15 O&A Dance: Un Mémoire Maya Plisetskaya (1925- 2015)

 By Walter Rutledge

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Maya Plisetskaya one of the most acclaimed ballerinas of the 20th Century has died of a heart attack in Germany at the age of 89. Known as both a superlative technical and dramatic performer, Plisetskaya was a mainstay in Russian ballet for more than five decades. Mikhail Chvydkoi, a former Russian culture minister, described Plisetskaya as a dancer who “was anchored in the Russian tradition but always tried to explore new horizons”. Continue reading

5/1/15 O&A Shall We Dance Friday- Encore Performance: Le jeune homme et la mort by Roland Petit (Zizi Jeanmaire & Rudolf Nureyev)- 1966

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Le Jeune Homme et La Mort was choreographed by Roland Petit  choreographed in 1946 to Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582, with a one-act libretto by Jean Cocteau. It tells the story of a Young Man driven to suicide by his faithless lover. Sets were by George Wakhevitch and costumes variously reported as being by Karinska or Cocteau. Continue reading

4/21/15 O&A REVIEW: Philadanco- Having Our Say…The Voices of Women Choreographers

By Walter Rutledge

PHILADANCO-jpegPhiladanco celebrated the 45th anniversary of the company Friday, April 17 through Sunday, April 19 at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. The program entitled Having Our Say…The Voices of Women Choreographers was an homage to the talents of female artists. The concert featured the work of four dance makers Diane McIntyre, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Bebe Miller and Dawn Marie Bazemore; and a tribute to performing artist, the late Mary Hinkson Jackson.   Continue reading

4/14/15 O&A Dance: Ballet Hispanico Begins Joyce Season

By Walter Rutledge

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Ballet Hispanico begins a two-week New York City season Tuesday April 14 at the Joyce Theatre. The season will an eclectic mix ranging from a modern remake of an opera inspired classic, to a eighties showgirl tease. The season continues Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro vision of celebrating the Latino culture. O&A NYC Magazine Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge sat down with Vilaro to discuss the upcoming season and more. Continue reading

4/8/15 O&A Profiles: Da’Von Doane and Ashley Murphy- Partners

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Partners form one of the most rewarding and lasting bonds between dancers.  Partnerships such as Rudolf Nureyev and Dame Margot Fonteyn, Richard Cragun and Marcia Haydee and Ivan Nagy and Natalia Makarova thrilled audiences with their cooperative commitment to excellence. This season Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Da’Von Doane and Ashley Murphy continues the tradition.

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In partnering the man is usually subservient, he becomes the platinum setting that invisibly reveals the ballerina’s “diamond” brilliance. Doane and Murphy first danced together in the 2009- 2010 season production of Billie Wilson’s Concerto In F. Doane explained their onstage relationship,”I guess the saying is true, that iron sharpens iron. To work with someone who never sacrifices the quality of their work for not even a second is truly inspiring. Working with Ashley makes me want to be a better dancer and partner because I know she is doing the same.”

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For the 2015 Dance Theatre Of Harlem New York City season Doane and Murphy will dance together in Balachine’s Agon, Robert Garland’s Return, Coming Together by Nacho Duato, Vessels by Darrell Moultrie and Christopher Huggin’s In The Mirror Of Her Mind. For more information about the 2015 Dance Theatre of Harlem New York season, April 8-11 at New York City Center, or to buy tickets visit dancetheatreofharlem.org. 

4/7/15 O&A Profile: Jenelle Figgins- Beauty, Brains and Talent

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Jenelle Figgins is best described as a combination of beauty, brains and talent. The 2014 Princess Grace Awards Winner graduated from SUNY Purchase New York in 2011 after earning a B.F.A. with honors in dance. In her 3rd season with Dance Theatre of Harlem Figgins gets to flex her dramatic muscle in Nacho Duato’s Coming Together. Continue reading