5/30/26 O&A NYC GOING BACK TO AFRICA WITH WALESTYLEZ: Davido – Amapiano

Nigerian Afrobeats Superstar Davido has dynamic ties to Amapiano, frequently collaborating with South African artists and infusing his music with the genre’s signature log drum baselines. While he doesn’t have a single solo song titled “Amapiano,” his catalog is rich with cross-continental Amapiano hits and remixes.

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5/27/26 O&A NYC WALSTYLEZ DANCE PARTY: School Kids Doing The Most In Amapiano Dance

Dressed in their official school uniforms, these talented young students frequently take over classrooms, school yards, and assemblies to showcase incredibly synchronized, high-energy footwork.Videos of South African school kids doing the most while performing Amapiano Dance. Continue reading

5/22/26 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Geoffrey Holder’s Dougla

The 2018 return of Geoffrey Holder’s masterwork Dougla to the repertoire Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) was a resounding success. The work is a sensorially sumptuous movement fest; and it is no wonder Dougla has remained an audience favorite since its premiere on April 16, 1974.

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5/20/26 O&A NYC WALESTYLEZ DANCE PARTY: Dancehall All Stars vs Afro All Stars – Exhibition Battle

The Dancehall All Stars vs Afro All Stars Exhibition Battle took place on May 16, 2026, as one of the most highly anticipated highlights of the annual CDC Dance Festival in Berlin, Germany.This intense, high-energy clash marked the 3rd edition of the special exhibition match, serving as a direct cultural dialogue between Jamaican Dancehall culture and diverse African dance influences. Continue reading

5/17/26 O&A NYC DANCE BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Jamel Gaines Named Artistic Director of Brooklyn North High Schools

By Walter Rutledge

The local weather had predicted steady morning rain with below average temperatures for April 30th; and for once they were spot on. A brigade of umbrellas seemed to march down Jay Street in downtown Brooklyn. With heads slightly bowed they maneuvered through the wet and dreary inclemency. When we entered the New York City College of Technology and headed towards the theater the mood immediately changed to one of academic excitement. Inside arts educators for Brooklyn North High Schools (BKNHS) were participating in the third in a series of four arts professional development workshops conducted by the district’s new Artist Director, Jamel Gaines.

The pedagogic atmosphere recalled the energy depicted in Rapheal’s fresco School of Athens. But instead of Aristotle flanked by Plato Gaines was introduced by a different scholar, Superintendent of Brooklyn North High Schools Dr. Rushell White. Dr. White (still basking in the afterglow of her April 28th appointment to Superintendent) welcomed the engaged teachers/mentors; and expressed her appreciation for their commitment to nurture the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. She was instrumental is the implementation of this new arts initiative now more than two-thirds through its first year.

Gaines role as Artistic Director goes beyond merely increasing classroom engagement, but to also provide professional assistance to the 47 schools that comprise the Brooklyn North High School District. To help guide the real-life/professional application of the students emerging artistry through sharing auditions techniques for dance, theater, and film, assist with creating a portfolio, exploring the seemingly less glamorus but neccesary technical/production career opportunities in house, stage and production managing, light, set and costume design. He will also work with educators to develop arts centric programming that reinvigorates and reimagines teaching techniques as prescribed by the Department of Education’s Blueprint for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. Educators and students will also receive hands on instruction/interaction from his staff of experienced teaching artists, all who have earned accolades and renowned for their vast professional experiences.

JGDC BKNHS Arts Profesional Development Series 3

Gaines began his mission in 1994 when JHS 113 in the Fort Green section of Brooklyn (this was before you could buy a latte or scones in that neighborhood) became his “Lyceum”, the home of the school for the Jamel Gaines Dance Company. His encouraging yet discipled methodology/mentorship has offered young people an expressive haven for over thirty years; and the tutelage ranges from dance decorum to banquet etiquette. This philosophy prepares not just the performer but the entire person for any field of endeavor. “Our goal is to ensure that students receive industry-standard training and technical development. To cultivate and empower the next generation of young artists”. Marketing/Production Assistant Shandale Rickets proudly proclaims, “We want them to lead with creativity and confidence”.

The final BKNHS arts professional development workshop will take place on Wednesday May 20th at New York City College of Technology. O&A NYC will be in the house (who knows what teaching tips we might learn).

In Photo: 1. Jamel Gaines, 2. Dr. Rushell White 3. Jamel Gaines, cast and BKNHS teachers

Walter Rutledge Photographer

5/11/26 O&A NYC BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Sneak Preview of Pressure – A Work in Progress By Christopher Huggins For JGDC

By Walter Rutledge

On Thursday April 30th Brooklyn North High Schools (BKNHS) held an Arts Professional Development Day at the New York City College of Technology. The day of networking, pedagogy, workshops and performance was the third of a four-part series moderated by Superintendent Dr. Russell White and conducted by members of the Jamel Gaines Dance Company (JGDC) and Artistic Director Jamel Gaines. One of the highlights was a dance performance by JGDC (yes, a 5-6-7-8 at 9am). The enthusiastic audience of educators were treated to a sneak preview of Pressure a work-in-progress by choreographer Christopher Huggins. Continue reading

5/8/26 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: It’s Not That Serious – A Dance Film by Ricky Ubeda

Shall We Dance Friday

It’s Not That Serious is a Short Contemporary Dance Film directed and choreographed by Ricky Ubeda, the winner of So You Think You Can Dance Season 11. Released in December 2025, the film features a high-energy ensemble performance set to the track Sympathy by Vampire Weekend. Continue reading

5/5/26 O&A NYC BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: What Is The Gateways Festival Orchestra?

By Walter Rutledge

Dance is a supportive/collaborative art. It requires costumes, lighting, sets, and music. The two disciplines with the closest bond are the marriage between movement and music. If the music provides the melody, then the dance are the visual lyrics. This was the bond between the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) and members of the Gatesway Festival Orchestra (GFO) during the dance’s company New York City Season April 16th thru April 19th at New York City Center. The dance company and orchestra performed the revival of DTH’s iconic Firebird ballet, and it proved to be an extremely harmonious relationship. Continue reading

5/1/26 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Benjamin Clementine – Nemesis

The Zas Dance Platform dance film interprets Benjamin Clementine’s Nemesis through dark, emotional contemporary movement, focusing on themes of karma and broken trust.Directed by Zaslavskyi Yevhenii and Bazela Oleksii, it highlights the 2014 track’s intensity with elegant, jerky, and urgent choreography. Continue reading

4/30/26 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW BY WALTER RUTLEDGE: Firebird – Dance Theatre of Harlem

By Walter Rutledge

The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) presented their New York City season April 16th thru 19th at New York City Center. The company offered new DTH favorites by William Forsythe, and Jodie Gates, and Artistic Director Robert Garland, and the much-anticipated revival of the iconic story ballet Firebird. The overwhelming response recalls the nostalgic revival of Dougla. It seems the public is clamoring for more from the Arthur Mitchell era. Continue reading