8/25/16 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Livin’ La Vida Loca- Ricky Martin

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Livin’ la Vida Loca, the number-one hit by Ricky Martin was released on March 23, 1999 from Martin’s self-titled debut English album (he had previously released several albums in Spanish). The video directed by Wayne Isham and starring Croatian model Nina Morić in Los Angeles 1999, and aired later the same month. The video received six nominations at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awards including Video of the Year, Best Male Video, Best Choreography in a Video and Viewer’s Choice. La vida loca is Spanish for “the crazy life.” Continue reading

8/22/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: American In Paris- Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron

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 An American in Paris is a 1951 musical film inspired by the 1928 orchestral composition An American in Paris by George Gershwin. Starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant, Georges Guétary, and Nina Foch, the film is set in Paris, and was directed by Vincente Minnelli from a script by Alan Jay Lerner. The music is by George Gershwin, with lyrics by his brother Ira, with additional music by Saul Chaplin, the music director. Continue reading

8/15/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Gene Kelly- Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

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Singin’ in the Rain (1952) musical comedy film classic directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. The film starred Kelly, Donald O’Connor and Debbie Reynolds. Continue reading

8/12/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Natalia Makarova- Dying Swan

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“Her performances set standards of artistry and aristocracy of dance which mark her as the finest ballerina of her generation in the West”- The History of Dance. Continue reading

8/9/16 O&A NYC SONG OF THE DAY: Usher – No Limit featuring Young Thug

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No Limit, a song by Usher, featuring rapper Young Thug released by RCA on June 9, 2016. The single released online streaming through the streaming service Tidal, which Usher co-owns. Continue reading

8/8/16 O&A NYC HOLLYWOOD MONDAY: Vamp- Starring Grace Jones

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Vamp, starring Grace Jones and Chris Makepeace is a 1986 comedy horror film directed by Richard Wenk, and co-written by Wenk and Donald P. Borchers. Continue reading

8/6/16 (REPOST) Tribute To Dudley Williams: A Song For You (1986)

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In 1972, Alvin Ailey created the elegiac solo Love Songs for dancer Dudley Williams. The  sixteen minute solo, composed in three sections includes A Song for You by Donny Hathaway; Poppies by Nina Simone; and He Ain’t Heavy, He’s my Brother by Donny Hathaway. Many  thought of the work as the male equivalent of the female solo Cry (1971). Continue reading

8/5/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Jerome Robbins- Fancy Free

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Fancy Free, a ballet choreographed by Jerome for Ballet Theatre, the predecessor of American Ballet Theatre. Set to a score by Leonard Bernstein, with scenery by Oliver Smith, costumes by Kermit Love and lighting by Ronald Bates. The premiere took place on Tuesday, April 18th, 1944, at the original Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. The sailors were played by Jerome Robbins, Michael Kidd, and John Kriza.  Continue reading

8/1/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Gregory Hines’ Tap Dance in America- Excerpt featuring

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Legendary Tap dancers Gregory Hines, Jimmy Slyde, Bunny Briggs, Sandman Simms performs during the 1989 PBS special Gregory Hines’ Tap Dance in America. Shot during rehearsal and performance at what used to be Billy Rose’s Diamond Horseshoe in New York, the special reunites cast members of previous Hines vehicles, including “Sophisticated Ladies” (the musical) and “Tap” (the movie). Continue reading

7/29/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Mikhail Baryshnikov In Twyla Tharp’s One For My Baby

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Mikhail Baryshnikov pays tribute to one of his idols, Maya Plisketskaya at the American-Soviet Cultural Exchange Festival: Hommage A Plisetskaya (1988). He performs Twyla Tharp’s One For My Baby sung by Frank Sinatra written by Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen. Continue reading