11/7/18 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

11/6/17 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: From Dusk Till Dawn – Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek did not have a choreographer for her dance. Director Robert Rodriguez just told her to feel the music and dance to it. Rodriguez would later use the same tactic with Jessica Alba in Sin City (2005).  Continue reading

11/3/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Viengsay Valdes And Brooklyn Mack- Diana And Acteon

For Brooklyn Mack, a principal dancer at The Washington Ballet, it is a dream come true: performing in the land of his ballet idol Carlos Acosta, one of the outstanding stars of the Royal Ballet of London.

Mack is one of over 20 U.S. based dancers who participated in the 24th International Havana Ballet Festival,  October 28th through Friday, November 7th, 2014. 

Viengsay Valdes & Brooklyn Mack – Diana & Acteon

10/30/17 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Coming To America (1988)- Paula Abdul Choreography

Paula Abdul talks about choreographing Coming To America, “This was one of my moments of having to really prove myself, because I was still pretty new in my career as a choreographer. John Landis, the director, wanted the person that choreographed Janet Jackson. I was still a Laker Girl. I went in and he looked at me and said, ‘What are you, a teenager?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am!’ Continue reading

10/28/17 O&A NYC IT’S SATURDAY ANYTHING GOES EXTRA- DANCE: Top 20 Soul Train Dancers of All Time

Soul Train dancers taught the world how to boogie in platform shoes, a huge Afros and bell bottom polyester pants while looking very so cool. The alumni include Shalamar members Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel, and let’s not forget the Asian girl.  Continue reading

10/25/17 O&A NYC DANCE: Ailey Releases Short Film Created In Paris

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater dancers appear in Rue Montorgueila joyful short film shot on the Parisian streets.  Ailey company members performed with local dancers and people of different backgrounds, talents and nationalities and it was released on October 24- United Nations Day

Continue reading

9/22/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: (Tango Queer)// A Don Agustín Bardi – Francisco y Lucrecio

Dancers Francisco Solá and Lucrecio Robledo perform Tango Queer directed by Carla Gutiérrez Yáñez, Belén Gutiérrez Yáñez videographer. Continue reading