11/24/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dear Quincy- Carmen De Lavallade and Wesley Fata

Carmen de Lavallade dancing to Quincy Jones’s “Soul Bossa Nova” with Wesley Fata on November 16, 1968. Ms. de Lavallade’s late husband, the great Geoffrey Holder, choreographed this piece This is jut an excerpt of a much longer dance. 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

8/6/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Carmen and Geoffrey (2005)


This documentary follows the astonishing five-decade marriage of Carmen De Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder and focuses on their careers as dancers, actors, choreographers and more. Continue reading

11/13/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: CARMEN and GEOFFREY

CARMEN and GEOFFREY, an intimate documentary, which was awarded Best Film at Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival 2009, follows the astonishing five-decade marriage and careers of two legends of the stage: Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder

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3/16/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH: Excerpt of Banda with Carmen de Lavallade and Geoffrey Holder (1957)

By Walter Rutledge

Shall We Dance

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Geoffrey Holder’s Banda dance debuted in the 1954 Truman Capote/Harold Arlen musical House Of Flowers. Holder the Baron of The Cemetery (based on the Haitian Loa of Death Baron Samedi) received both a performer and choreographer credit in the program. The Broadway musical takes place somewhere in the West Indies during Mardi Gras weekend. Continue reading

1/29/19 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Carmen de Lavallade’s Inspiring Women

Actress, dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade tells the story of her cousin, ballet dancer Janet Collins. “There are times in your life when you want to give up, but she never did,” de Lavallade says. Continue reading

1/23/19 O&A NYC DANCE/THEATRE REVIEW: 5 Plus Ensemble Debut Performance

By Walter Rutledge

5 Plus Ensemble presented their premiere salon performance on Friday, December 14th, 2018 at Dance Theatre of Harlem’s studio 2. With a stellar core group consisting of Hope Clark, Carmen de Lavallade, Shelia Rohan, Darryl Reuben Hall and Michael Leon Thomas; this performing arts collective offered five works encompassing pure dance, theatre/musical theatre and prose. The well attended debut reinforced the notion that somethings do get better with time. 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

4/6/18 (REPOST) O&A NYC LIFESTYLE/DANCE: Geoffrey Holder A True Renaissance Man

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Congratulation to Dance Theatre Of Harlem, Carmen de Lavallade and Leo Holder, Dougla was “simply marvelous”. This video honors Geoffrey Holder- a true renaissance man. It also includes rare footage and interviews with wife Carmen de Lavallade and son Leo Holder.  Continue reading

12/30/17 O&A NYC DANCE: Misty Copland and Ailey Company Perform In Tribute To Carmen De Lavallade

Misty Copeland, Robert Fairchild and members of the Ailey Company performed in honor of Carmen de Lavallade during the Kennedy Center Honors.  Continue reading