11/29/18 O&A NYC 26 DAYS OF NUTCRACKER: Rudolf Nureyev and Merle Park (1963)

Rudolf Nureyev and Merle Park dances Grande pas de deux from The Royal Ballet’s The Nutcracker (1963). Continue reading

11/23/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Khalia Campbell- Living Her Dream

By Walter Rutledge

Dancer Khalia Campbell is living her dream! Years of dedication, sacrifice and ole fashion hard work has taken this Bronx native to her “dream job” as a member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Campbell will make her New York City Center debut during the company’s fall season November 28 through December 30. Continue reading

11/17/18 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Cosby Celebrates Ailey

Cosby Celebrates Ailey conceived, co-produced and written by former Ailey dancer and choreographer George Faison. The program, which was taped more than a year prior to airing, celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater; and features Ailey himself dancing in the opening section. Continue reading

11/16/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Stormy Weather- Featuring Katherine Dunham And Her Dance Troupe

Stormy Weather is a 1943 film musical produced and released by 20th Century Fox. The movie is considered one of the best Hollywood musicals with an all African-American cast and serve to  showcase of some of the top African-American performers of the time. Continue reading

11/14/18 O&A NYC DANCE/HEALTH AND WELLNESS: Dance Of The Village Elders Present Santa’s Babies

Dance Of The Village Elders presents their annual Christmas Concert/fundraiser appropriated titled Santa’s Babies. The performance will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2018, 4pm at St. Philip’s Church located at 204 West 134 Street in the village of Harlem. The concert title is an homage to the indomitable spirit of the Village Elders; who have made Eartha Kitt’s Christmas classic, Santa Baby, into their signature holiday work.  Continue reading

11/9/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Spectre de la Rose- Rudolph Nureyev and Denise Jackson

Le Spectre de la rose (English: The Spirit of the Rose) about a young girl who dreams of dancing with the spirit of a souvenir rose from her first ball. Jean-Louis Vaudoyer wrote the ballet story. Continue reading

11/11/21 O&A NYC DANCE: Bill Bojangle Robinson – Stair Dance- from Harlem Is Heaven (1932)

The Stair Dance featured in Harlem Is Heaven (1932): one of the first movies to ever feature an all-black cast, this film also boasts one of the earliest recorded versions of Bill Robinson’s famous stair dance routine, where he tapped up and down two flights of five steps joined by a shared platform. Continue reading

11/3/18 O&A NYC ITS SATURDAY- ANYTHING GOES: The Sound Of One Hand Slapping

The Sound Of One Hand Slapping is an excerpt from Ara Fitzgerald’s Watch The Bullies Dance in which the ghost of P.T. Barnum, upset that heaven is a no smoking zone, returns to lament the loss of ethics in the showbusiness of politics. He argues that TRUST, NOT FEAR is the true art of both the showman and the politician. Who knew that common sense could be so complicated? Continue reading

11/2/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Lindy Hop Hellzapoppin

Hellzapoppin (1941) the Universal Pictures adaptation of the Broadway musical  directed by H.C. Potter with a cast that includes Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson who produced and starred in it on Broadway) and Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Continue reading