The Moor’s Pavane in a Studio-filmed performance of Jose Limon’s landmark 1949 ballet featuring Jose Limon, Betty Jones, Lucas Hoving, and Ruth Currier.
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Category: Dance
3/28/20 (REPOST) O&A NYC SATURDAY MORNING CONCERT: Agon – With Additional Footage Featuring Diana Adams and Arthur Mitchell
Agon (1957) is a ballet for twelve dancers, with music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by George Balanchine. The cast includes:First Pas de Trios– Peter Boal, Zippora Karz, Kathleen Tracey Second de Trios– Albert Evans, Arch Higgins, Wendy Whelan Pas de Duet– Darcey Bussell, Lindsay Fischer.
And an excerpt from the Pas de Duet featuring Diana Adams and Arthur Mitchell
9/27/15 O&A NYC Dance : From The Horse’s Mouth- Celebrating New York’s Clark Center for the Performing Arts
By Walter Rutledge
Clark Center NYC will present a week of dance and related activities Monday September 28 through Friday October 2 at City College Center for the Arts, Aaron Davis Hall. The event is part of the “rebirth” of the Clark Center for the Performing Arts; the venerable New York City dance institution that closed 26 years ago. The new Clark Center NYC returns as a virtual dance center instead of a brick and mortar facility. Its mission is to not just honor past accomplishments but to offer opportunities to the next generation of dancers and dance makers. Continue reading
9/26/15 O&A NYC REVIEW: Camille A. Brown & Dancers- BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play
By Walter Rutledge
Camille A. Brown & Dancers opened the 2015 fall Joyce Theater season on Tuesday, September 22 with BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play. Inspired by Kyra D. Gaunt’s book, The Games Black Girls Play Choreographer/director Brown describes the one-act evening’s length, “BLACK GIRL: Linguistic Play celebrates the unspoken rhythm and language that Black girls have through Double Dutch, social dances, and hand clapping games that are contemporary and ancestral.” The six member all female cast accomplished Brown’s vision through of series of three duets each exploring different aspects of life and society. Continue reading
12/31/21 O&A NYC Shall We Dance Friday (Repost): Banda (excerpt)- Geoffrey Holder and Carmen de Lavallade
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) and 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
9/18/15 O&A NYC Shall We Dance Friday: Maurice Béjart- La Sacre du printemps (1970)
Le Sacre du printemps (1959) is a milestone in the history of dance, and choreographer Maurice Béjart approached the work with great courage. His version full of new meanings, physicality and sensuality became a universally recognized success. “Human love, in its physical appearance, symbolizes the act by which God creates the cosmos, and the joy it brings. Let this ballet be bare of all picturesque artifice, let it be the hymn to the union between man and woman at its deepest level, between heaven and earth, the dance of life and death, let it be as eternal as spring!” – Maurice Bejart Continue reading
9/11/15 O&A NYC Shall We Dance Friday: ABADDON
ABADDON a poem of love and destruction. Inspired by relationships that test boundaries and go beyond the acceptable; relationships that reduce, erode and abuse until the spirit is consumed. Abaddon is a place of suffering and purification. Continue reading
9/4/15 O&A NYC Shall We Dance Friday: Storyboard P- Soldier
Soldier is a collaboration between filmmaker Cinque Northern and Brooklyn born, street dance battle champion Storyboard P. The freestyle dance is set to Sade’s Soldier Of Love and shot in the Mojave desert. On Wednesday July 15 the New York Dance and Performance Awards (The Bessies), honored Storyboard P with the Outstanding Emerging Choreographer Award.
9/3/15 O&A NYC Dance: Earl Mosley’s The Hearts Of Men- A Dance Family
By Walter Rutledge
Earl Mosley didn’t choose to dance; dance chose him. Growing up in rural North Carolina Mosley was expected to farm the family land. After taking a dance class on a dare any expectations of living an agrarian lifestyle were lost to a career based in movement.
Mosley applied the life lessons from his upbringing to his dance philosophy. He believes that there is room to nurture the entire artist. Mosley has created more than a dance company, instead to establish a dance family.
The Hearts Of Men (presented as part of Ailey Extension) is a two-week workshop that brings together dancers and movement enthusiasts of different ages, disciplines and technical levels. The participant’s work with established teachers, choreographers and arts professionals culminating with two performances on Saturday, September 5 at 7pm and Sunday, September 6, 3pm at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. The philosophy is geared toward a return to artistic integrity.
A Conversation With Earl Mosley
In an age when texting has replaced face-to-face conversation, Mosley has decided to create an environment based on sharing and communicating. He has designed a safe haven where artists can not only work on their craft, but also find solace from another person who is or has experienced a similar problem or situation. In other words, you are not alone
The concept is not new it is really a return to another era, when dancers didn’t usually travel by airplanes it was the director’s station wagon that became official company vehicle, and it lodgings were motels instead of hotels. Thankfully it was an era when dance had intrinsic aesthetic value, and was not just a trick laden competition sport. Despite the hardships and challenge those dancers describe their performance experiences as “a family”.
The two performances this weekend will showcase thirteen works by ten choreographers, and feature eighty performers including an array of accomplished guest artists. The works presented will range from dance theatre to abstract, from complete choreographic statements to movement studies. The common denominator throughout will be a terpsichorean brotherhood expressed through movement.
Tickets are $25 Adult $18 Students we suggest purchasing online to ensuring seating at http://www.alvinailey.org/hearts-of-men-performance.
9/2/15 O&A NYC Magazine: Brother And Sister Make Dreams A Reality
By Walter Rutledge
The Frank Sinatra classic New York New York declares “If I can make it there, I’ll make it anywhere”. For a brother and sister their dreams of dancing on stage at the legendary Apollo Theater are about to come true. Jelani and Arnese Britton (who reside in the Bronx) will get a chance to strut their stuff tonight at Amateur Night At The Apollo.
Jelani (age 24) and Arnese (15) have a special big brother little sister bond. The self-trained duo rehearse their routine in Jelani’s living room. His apartment provides them unlimited rehearsal hours, but lacks the space and mirrors that would help hone the dance.
The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center Genex Program provided Jelani and Arnese studio time and an advisor for professional feedback. “Its been our mission for almost 40 years to assist new and emerging dancers, choreographers and dance companies”, says Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center Executive Chairman Alex Smith Jr. “Our Genex Program is designed to offer young artists one-on-one assistance and technical support.”
You could see the excitement on the dancer’s faces as they began rehearsing at DANY Studios on 38th Street in Manhattan. “This was our first time ever working in a real studio”, Jelani explained. “We were able to get a feel for dancing in a big space with mirrors. It is something I’ll never forget.”
Jelani, the choreographer, has wanted to one day dance on the Apollo stage for as long as he can remember. His sister Arnese dances at church and at school, but this is the first time on a public stage. “I can’t wait to dance at the Apollo, I’m a little nervous; but I know it’s a once in a lifetime experience and I want to have fun”, says Arnese.
The Apollo amateur night is the oldest continuous talent shows in the world. Ella Fitzgerald won the first Amateur Night in 1934, and received a prize of $25 and work for one week. The list of other Amateur Night winners include Billie Holiday, the Isley Brothers, Jimi Hendrix, and the Jackson 5.
The selection process for the The 81-year-old Amateur Night hasn’t changed, participants from all disciplines audition for chance to perform. Amateur Night At The Apollo remains an incubator for talent, and is also one of New York City’s most acclaimed live performances. The world-renowned weekly performances attract an international audience, who can either make or break a performer.
Jelani and Arnese hope to go to the next round and eventually win the Amateur Night competition. They are all ready winners for having the courage to turn their dreams into reality. Whatever the outcome they are performing tonight on the stage “Where stars are born and legends are made.”
For tickets for Amateur Night At The Apollo at $21, $27, $33 and are available in person at the Apollo Theater Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com, and by calling Ticketmaster (800) 745-3000, for Groups Call (212) 531-5355.
