

Tag: George Balanchine
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
12/5/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: New York City Ballet (NYCB) Balanchine Nutcracker (2011)


The 2011 New York City Ballet (NYCB) Balanchine Nutcracker performance was filmed for a PBS Live From Lincoln Center broadcast. The televised production featured principal dancers Megan Fairchild as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Joaquin De Luz as her Cavalier, with Adam Hendrickson as Herr Drosselmeier with students from the School of American Ballet, the official school of the NYCB. Continue reading
4/14/25 O&A NYC DANCE REVIEW: Dance Theatre of Harlem
By Walter Rutledge

The Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) presented their New York City season April 10th through April 14th at New York City Center. The four-day four-performance season featured works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Jodi Gates, and DTH Artistic Director Robert Garland. The evening presented four abstract works in the Contemporary Ballet, Neoclassic and Garland’s own Harem Swag styles. There was a lot of admirable dancing presented but little theatre offered. Continue reading
4/4/25 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: A Conversation With Micah Bullard
By Walter Rutledge


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
8/16/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Unite- The Future Faces of Ballet
By Walter Rutledge
Unite, the Joyce Ballet Festival’s opening night performance was an eye-opening reveal of the face (or faces) of the future of ballet. The six-day, festival offers eight performances from Tuesday August 13 through Sunday August 18. Unite is an enlightening example of the growing and long overdue multicultural diversity and inclusiveness the artform so rightfully deserves. Continue reading
8/9/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Calvin Royal III and João Menegussi Perform Touche at Unite- Joyce Ballet Festival

UNITE the Joyce Theater’s Ballet Festival, August 13 through August 18, is curated and co-produced by American Ballet Theatre Principal Dancer Calvin Royal III. One of the works to be presented, Touché, is a duet that explores the themes of male love. Created by Chris Rudd the ballet features Royal III (Adam) and ABT Corps de ballet member João Menegussi (Steve). Continue reading
10/20/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: House of Flowers From Carmen & Geoffrey (2005)
This House of Flowers excerpt featuring Geoffrey Holder and Carmen De Lavallade is from the 2005 documentary Carmen & Geoffrey. Holder and his brother Boscoe talk about their early roots in Trinidad, forming a dance company and Holder meeting his wife (De Lavallade) in the 1955 production of House of Flowers. Continue reading
11/20/21 O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Louis Johnson’s Forces of Rhythm (Excerpts) Dance Theatre Of Harlem

Louis Johnson’s ballet, Forces of Rhythm choreographed in 1971, became a signature piece for the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Company. Johnson blended ballet, jazz, modern and West African dance creating a unique movement collage, which distinguished the company’s versatility. Forces of Rhythm took place alongside the works of George Balanchine, Arthur Mitchell, Geoffrey Holder, and other choreographers for the fledging ballet company. Continue reading
4/8/20 O&A NYC MAGAZINE: Remembering Louis Johnson
By Walter Rutledge

Louis Johnson’s passing marks the end of an era in Black dance. Johnson was the last of the of his generation of 20th century American choreographers of African descent and International renowned. His contemporaries, Alvin Ailey, Talley Beatty, Geoffrey Holder, Donald McKayle, and Arthur Mitchell, all forged through the restrictive Jim Crow era of hatred and segregation; that unfortunately included the arts- and dance. Continue reading





