4/5/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Harlem Arts Alliance Honors Women In Dance

By Walter Rutledge

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The Harlem Arts Alliance presented a special monthly meeting celebrating the Harlem community’s contribution to dance. The forum, which took place on Monday April 4, acknowledged the contributions of women of color to the advancement of the art form. The evening began with an informal meet and greet in the lobby of Aaron Davis Hall, City College. Continue reading

4/5/16 O&A NYC INSPIRATIONAL TUESDAY: Camille Brown- Black Girl: Linguistic Play

Inspirational-Tuesday
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Camille A. Brown, choreographer, who has received critic acclaim for her social commentary dance works, has been named a TED2015 fellow. Brown is among 21 other fellows who were selected and range from biologists, journalists, photographers, social entrepreneurs, technology innovators, a chef, policy analyst, opera singer, astrophysicist, and paleontologist. Her most recent work Black Girl: Linguistic Play explores the social interact of black girls and women.  Continue reading

3/31/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- REVIEW: Ailey II- Jean Emile’s In And Out Is Outstanding

By Walter Rutledge

Shall We Dance

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Ailey II began their annual New York City 2016 season Wednesday March 30th at the Ailey Citygroup Theater, in the Joan Weill Center For Dance (405 W 55th Street). The two-week season, which runs through April 10, 2016, will offer two programs, All New and Returning Favorites. The season opened with the All New program, featuring four works by Kyle “JustSole” Clark, Jean Emile, Ray Mercer, and Jamar Roberts. Continue reading

3/26/16 O&A NYC DANCE: A Conversation With Debbie Blunden- Diggs Rainbow Round My Shoulder

By Walter Rutledge

Rainbow Round My Shoulder (part one)

The Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) will perform Donald McKayle’s Rainbow Round My Shoulder tonight with Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance at the Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. This is the second season of the new initiative by the Taylor Company to showcase works by emerging choreographer and modern dance masters during their New York City season. O&A NYC Magazine talked with DCDC Artistic Director Debbie Blunden- Diggs about the work and the New York City performances. Continue reading

3/23/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Donald McKayle and Rainbow Round My Shoulder honored at Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance Performance

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On Tuesday March 22 the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company performed Donald McKayle’s 1959 modern dance classic Rainbow Round My Shoulder during Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance New York City season. The presentation is part of the Taylor Company’s initiative to present new works by emerging choreographers and modern dance masters. This is the second season of the initiative; season one featured an impressive performance of Doris Humphrey’s Passacaglia and Fugue by the Jose Limon Dance Company.

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Following the performance a reception honoring McKayle was held at the Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. McKayle (84) was greeted by well wishers, and a surprising number of dancers who had performed the work over the past 56 years including former Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performers Donna Wood, Elizabeth Roxas, Ailey 2 Artistic Director Emerita Sylvia Waters and Tony Award Winner George Faison. You have two more opportunities to see Rainbow Round My Shoulder on Thursday, March 24 and Saturday March 26. DON’T MISS IT! (Review of Rainbow Round My Shoulder and related interviews to follow shortly.) For tickets visit www.boxoffice.dance.

 

Rainbow Round My Shoulder photo by Sara D. Davis/ ADF 2011

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3/21/16 O&A NYC DANCE: A Conversation With Michelle Fleet- The Diversion Of Angels

Michelle Fleet Talks Graham 2

To honor the Martha Graham Dance Company’s 90th Anniversary Celebration Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance will perform Graham’s Diversion of Angels during the New York City season at the Koch Theater, Lincoln Center. Former Graham principal dancers Blakeley White-McGuire and Tadej Brdnik restaged the work on the Taylor Company; which has been maintained by Linda Hodes. Hodes, a former member of both the Graham and Taylor Companies, performed the work with Taylor and in 1993 became the Founding Director of Taylor 2. Continue reading

3/19/16 O&A NYC DANCE: Eric Underwood (repost)

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Eric Underwood, Soloist with The Royal Ballet and Washington, D.C., native trained locally under the direction of Barbara Marks. After only eight months (there were no other boys at the school) Eric moved to the School of American Ballet in New York. Continue reading

3/18/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Paul Taylor- Promethean Fire (Toccata & Fugue)

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Promethean Fire (2002) danced to the music of three of Leopold Stokowski’s famous Bach transcriptions (Opus 116). The ensemble work is one of Paul Taylor’s six ballets set to the music of the baroque master. This excerpt is the first movement choreographed to the celebrated Toccata and Fugue in D minor.   Continue reading