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

8/11/24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: The Staple Singers – I’ll Take You There (Live)

The Staple Singers were a gospel, soul, and R&B family singing group and one of the first early crossover groups. Roebuck “Pops” Staples the patriarch of the family, formed the group with his children Cleotha, Pervis, and Mavis. Yvonne replaced her brother when he was drafted into the U.S. Army, and again in 1970. Continue reading

8/2/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Happy Birthday Geoffrey Holder- Banda

By Walter Rutledge

Shall We Dance

Happy Birthday renaissance man Geoffrey Holder. The dancer, actor, choreographer, director, visual artist and all around force of nature was born on August 1st, 1930 in Port of Spain; the capital city of the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Continue reading

7/30/24 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Sheryl Lee Ralph Emmy Acceptance Video

If you’re not watching Abbott Elementary, you might want to fix that ASAP. Not only is it one of the best and most wholesome new comedies on TV, every episode is worth it for Sheryl Lee Ralph‘s regally hilarious line readings alone. And clearly the Television Academy agrees:  Ralph won an Emmy for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as the imdomitable veteran kindergarten teacher Mrs. Howard. Ralph is also the first Black woman since Jackée Harry in 1987 to win this Emmy. Continue reading

7/17/24 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Visiting Africa- Richard Pryor Live on The Sunset Strip

Richard Pryor‘s live performances at the Sunset Strip caught on film. Pryor talks about racism and the differences between blacks and whites Continue reading

7/7/24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Chandler Moore- Lead Me On (Live)

Singer, songwriter, pianist, guitarist, and worship leader Chandler David Moore  was born on March 21, 1995, to Bishop Brian David Moore and Elder Jametta Chandler Moore in Charleston, South Carolina. Moore grew up going to church where his father was a pastor. Moore is also a member of Maverick City Music, an Atlanta based collective of worshippers working in the contemporary Christain music and Gospel.  Continue reading

7/4/24 O&A NYC INDEPENDENCE DAY LIVE PERFORMANCE: Whitney Houston – Star Spangled Banner (National Anthem) – Super Bowl 1991

Among the annals of national anthems as a prelude to sporting events, few have topped the one delivered by Whitney Houston before Super Bowl XXV in 1991 in Tampa, Florida. Continue reading

7/3/24 O&A NYC WILDIN OUT WEDNESDAY: Boondocks Breaking Bad Parody |

In this Boondocks Breaking Bad Parody Granddad cooks up some secret hair relaxer. Continue reading

6/30/24 O&A NYC GOSPEL SUNDAY: Gladys Knight Sings His Eye Is on the Sparrow at The Kennedy Center

Gladys Knight performs the 1905 gospel hymn “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” at The Kennedy Center during the annual “Let Freedom Ring” celebration to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Continue reading

6/29/24 O&A NYC SATURDAY ANYTHING GOES: Promethean Fire – Paul Taylor Dance Company (Bach-Stokowski)

A programme note for “Promethean Fire” states that the ballet “examines a kaleidoscope of emotional colors in the human condition” and Leopold Stokowski’s three Bach arrangements suit the balletic action perfectly! Continue reading