Shall We Dance Friday

3/15/24 O&A NYC CELEBRATING WOMEN ON SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Firebird- Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dance Theatre of Harlem’s iconic Firebird places the Russian folk tale about a magical bird that triumphs over evil in an exotic Caribbean setting. John Taras’ choreography to Stravinsky’s familiar score was further enlivened by sets and costumes by Geoffrey Holder. The 1982 DTH production was a tremendous worldwide success. Continue reading

3/8/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Lil Buck at Foundation Louis Vuitton

To mark the current exhibition at Foundation Louis Vuitton in Paris, Icons Of Modern Art: The Shchukin Collection, London-based director Andrew Margetson follows Memphis-born jookin’ dancer Lil Buck as he twists and turns past masterpieces by the likes of Picasso and Matisse. Continue reading

2/2/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: It Don’t Mean a Thing! Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle and Gregg Burge.

On March 1 1981, Sophisticated Ladies debuted on Broadway. The show run for 767 performances  and garnered two Tony Awards for Willi Kim for Best Costume and Hinton Battle for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical. It Don’t Mean a Thing! featuring the sultry Phyllis Hyman, Hinton Battle… Continue reading

1/19/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Four Corners- Ronald K. Brown and Evidence: A Dance Company

Ronald K. Brown’s Four Corners was originally commissioned for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 2014. Dancers depict spiritual seekers amid four angels standing on the corners of the earth, holding the four winds. Continue reading

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

11/17/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Robert Battle Resigns

  From the Ailey Press Office The Board of Trustees of Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation today announced that Robert Battle, Artistic Director of Ailey since 2011, has informed them that he needs to focus on his health and has submitted his resignation. The Board has accepted Mr. Battle’s resignation with… 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

10/6/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alvin Ailey’s “Mary Lou’s Mass” and “Hidden Rites” Excerpts

Mary Lou’s Mass (1971) with John Parks, Dudley Williams and Clive Thompson and Hidden Rites (1973) with John Parks and Judith Jamison.  Continue reading

9/28/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Debbie Allen Part Two- On Choreography and Directing

By Walter Rutledge The second installment from the Out and About NYC Magazine 2015 interview with entertainment icon Debbie Allen. In this section we discussed her views on choreography and directing.  Continue reading

9/8/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Empathy (Part One)- A Conversation with Debbie Allen

By Walter Rutledge In 2015 O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge interviewed Debbie Allen at the Faison Firehouse Theater for Dance Noir Magazine (DNM). The print article would discuss her relationship with Katherine Dunham. The video was produced as visual notes for the upcoming Dunham article. When the magazine suspended publication,… Continue reading

2/14/24 O&A NYC ST. VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE: Dudley Williams- Alvin Ailey’s Love Songs

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… Continue reading

4/15/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Lawrence Rhodes- Beginning of the Harkness Ballet

Larry Rhodes discusses the events leading to the formation of the Harkness Ballet in an excerpt from the upcoming documentary An American Ballet Story.  The story about the all too short life of the Harkness Ballet, will have its New York live screening premiere on April 20th at the New York Public Library Performing Arts – Bruno Walter Auditorium. O&A… Continue reading

4/7/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ballet For Life: Harkness Ballet- Finis Jhung

In the dance film autobiography Ballet For Life: Harkness Ballet former dance and acclaimed teacher  Finis Jhung reminisces about his years with the Harkness Ballet where he reached the pinnacle in his career and discovered Buddhism, which dramatically changed the course of his life. Continue reading

3/10/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: They Called Her Moses

They Called Her Moses is Donald McKayle‘s story of freedom fighter Harriet Tubman. The cast includes Jacqueline Walcott, Robert Powell, Sylvia Waters, Arthur Mitchell, Kathleen Stanford, Donald McKayle and Carmen DeLavallade. Continue reading

1/13/23 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ancestral Voices- Dianne McIntyre, Romare Bearden and Cecil Taylor

One of Bearden’s early dance collaborations was the modern dance work Ancestral Voices choreographed by Dianne McIntyre and presented by the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. At the suggestion of company founder and artistic director Alvin Ailey, Romare Bearden was commissioned to create the visuals for the work which premiered… Continue reading

12/24/22 O&A NYC FROM THE VAULT: A Conversation with Clive Thompson- The Ailey Years

By Walter Rutledge Clive Thompson danced in the Golden Era of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Officially becoming a permanent member in 1970 when choreographer Ailey was entering a creative zenith. He viral good looks, skillful partnering, and his ability to capture audiences in both dramatic and abstract roles… Continue reading

12/16/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Fik Shun and Twitch So You Think You Can Dance Season 10 Finale

Stephen Laurel Twitch Boss was an American freestyle hip hop dancer, choreographer, actor, television producer and television personality. In 2008, he finished in second place on the American version of So You Think You Can Dance. Sleep In Heaven! Continue reading

12/10/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Rudolf Nureyev’s Nutcracker (1968)

This historic performance from 1968 captures choreographer/performer Rudolf Nureyev at the peak of his career. Filmed at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the ballet features artists of the Royal Ballet including Wayne Sleep, Jillian Gibbs and Merle Park as Clara. Continue reading

11/25/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alvin Ailey’s Revelations (1960),

Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations (1960), one of the most recognizable modern dance works, remains a powerful testament to the human spirit. This cast includes Marilyn Banks, April Berry, Kevin Brown, Gary DeLoatch, Ralph Glenmore, Deborah Manning, Renee Robinson and Dudley Williams.  Continue reading

10/21/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Greed | A Story Told Through Dance

Josh Killacky is a famous Dancer, Choreographer, Tik Tok Star, Model from the United States. He is famous for his dancing on Tik Tok as well on other social media platform. He has been seen Ellen Show, NBC World Of Dance, Good Morning America. Continue reading

10/14/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dracula – Northern Ballet

Seducing countless generations, Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire lives on in this extraordinary ballet. The dark tale of the immortal Count is played out through Northern Ballet’s blend of sensuous dancing and gripping theatre enhanced by gothic sets and costumes. Continue reading

8/5/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Sylvie Guillem (Official Full Documentary)

Sylvie Guillem is one of the most acclaimed dancers in the history of the dance world. With her flexible and strong body, beautiful legs, and rich expressive power, she transformed the image of conventional female dancers. She revolutionized classical ballet, pioneering a new model of classical ballerina. At a time… Continue reading

6/17/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: JABBAWOCKEEZ At The 2022 NBA Finals

Jabbawockeez is a Hip Hop dance crew that rose to prominence as the winner of the first season of America’s Best Dance Crew in 2008. Established in 2003 in San Diego, California when dancers Kevin Brewer and Joe Larot put together an innovative dance crew. Continue reading

4/29/22 O&A NYC MAGAZINE SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Fikshun Vs King Havoc-BattleFest TV Series (Ep4)

Battle Fest started in the basements in the heart of Bedstuy and Flatbush Brooklyn. Like most of underground Black culture the Hip Hop Dance artform has exploded worldwide.  Continue reading

3/4/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ghetto Funk- James Brown (2022)

Ghetto Funk started out life as a UK based online blog and record label which was founded by Simon and Will in August 2010. They wanted to create something for the burgeoning ‘party breaks’ scene so that people had a place to find the latest music and artists contributing to… Continue reading

2/18/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Rock Steady Crew – Planet Rock

Rock Steady Crew is a Break Dance group has become a franchise name for multiple groups in other locations.The group was initially formed in the Bronx,New York City in 1977 by B-Boy Jimmy Dee and Jimmy Lee. The Manhattan branch was created by Crazy Legs and B-Boy Fresh. Continue reading

2/12/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ghetto Kids – Dance Talker 2022

The Ghetto Kids (or Triplets Ghetto Kids) is a dance group founded in 2014 by Daouda Kavuma and composed of children from the Katwe slum in Kampala (Uganda). Continue reading

1/7/22 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Cal vs Kidd The Monster | BattleFest Live

Cal Created a Flex dance veteran from Brooklyn,NewYork battles Kidd The Monster a Popper from Southern Florida at Battlefest League. Continue reading

12/24/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ailey’s 2021 Opening Night Gala

As special holiday gift from the Ailey company to you, watch the Opening Night Gala now through Dec 28. The performance honors you, our audience, our inspiration. Happy Holidays! Featuring: Robert Battle’s ‘Ella’(performed to live music by Jazzmeia Horne) and the finale of Love Stories,’ plus Bird’ Lives!, an excerpt… Continue reading

11/26/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Misty Copeland- Black Ballerinas Work Harder

In 2015, Dancer Misty Copeland made history by becoming the first African American female principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. Fast forward to 2021, and she has been on Time magazine’s 100 list and one Glamour magazine’s “Women of the Year.” Now, the New York Times bestselling author and trailblazer… Continue reading

10/22/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: A Conversation With Lloyd Knight

By Walter Rutledge Martha Graham Dance Company begins it’s fall season on Tuesday, October 26 through October 31 at the Joyce Theater. Principal dancer Lloyd Knight discussed the upcoming season, working through the pandemic, and all things Graham with O&A NYC Editor-in-Chief Walter Rutledge.  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

7/2/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Champion Tears Autumn/Winter 2021 CRY/REVELATIONS Collection

On March 15th, 2021 Samantha Figgins and Yannick Lebrun of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater transformed an empty Queens Museum through movement. Continue reading

6/18/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Ailey Juneteenth Celebration

Ailey Celebrates Juneteenth is an uplifting program that features performance highlights from Alvin Ailey’s Cry and Revelations, as well as Rennie Harris’ Lazarus. Continue reading

5/7/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: The Harlem Sandman (1943) Count Basie and Dorothy Dandridge,

Count Basie and his Orchestra play Harlem Sandman, an extended number in Hit Parade of 1943. It features Dorothy Dandridge and Jack Williams singing plus dance act Pops and Louis (Albert Whitman & Louis Williams) along with dancers Dorothea Durham, Neva Peoples & Ruth Scott. Continue reading

4/30/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Members Don’t Get Weary by Jamar Roberts

Ailey All Access presents the online premiere of ‘Members Don’t Get Weary,‘ the first work Resident Choreographer Jamar Roberts created for the Company. He says this ensemble work set to the music of legendary American jazz artist John Coltrane, “takes an abstract look into the notion of one ‘having the… Continue reading

1/15/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater- Chroma, Grace, Takademe, Revelations (2015)

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs Revelations, Chroma, Grace, and Takademe in this 2015 rebroadcast. Continue reading

8/28/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Creative Outlet Offers Free Outdoor Classes

By Walter Rutledge The bright late morning sun was still drying the dew off the grass, but Fort Green Park was already bustling with energy. As I climbed the white marble stairs the sound of music greeted me halfway up. Patiently waiting at the base of the Prison Ship Martyrs’… Continue reading

8/7/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Bob Fosse Documentary

Bob Fosse stunned the musical theatre world when he went from dance darling to world class choreographer and director. Continue reading

7/31/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Leo Holder discusses Dougla- Bonus 1977 DTH Performance of Dougla

Leo Holder, son of the choreographer Geoffrey Holder, and Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Virginia Johnson discuss the origins of Dougla. This is followed by a special presentation of Dougla from a 1977 PBS Broadcast. Continue reading

6/26/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: A Hymn for Alvin Ailey- A Documentary Film

The documentary film A Hymn for Alvin Ailey goes behind the scenes of Judith Jamison’s Hymn and gives you a look at Alvin Ailey’s life from the perspective of those who knew him best. Continue reading

6/18/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Donald Byrd’s Greenwood- Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Greenwood, Donald Byrd‘s fifth Ailey commission draws on the Company’s theatrical roots and legacy of addressing social injustice. The work’s title references a 1921 tragedy that happened in Tulsa, Oklahoma’s segregated Greenwood District. At the time, it was one of the country’s most affluent African American communities, known as Black… Continue reading

6/12/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Creole Giselle (DTH On Demand)

When the ballet Giselle was created in 1841, it was not imagined to be performed by men and women of color, Black men and women. In 1984, Dance Theatre of Harlem Co-Founder Arthur Mitchell changed that. The acclaimed DTH production of this classic, Creole Giselle, was re-conceived by Arthur Mitchell… Continue reading

5/22/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: A Conversation With Calvin Royal III- The Best Is Yet To Come

By Walter Rutledge   On an unseasonably cold Sunday April morning Calvin Royal III met my at the East Harlem storefront dance studio of Robin William’s Uptown Dance Academy. The interview was in conjunction with his first upcoming New York City season as a soloist with American Ballet Theater (ABT).… Continue reading

(Repost) 5/8/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: The A- Z of Dance

A-Z of Dance shows you how to set hearts alight and clubs on fire. Shot on the streets and rooftops of sunny LA, float like an Arabesque, spin like a B-Boy, wobble like a Chicken Noodle Soup… it’s time to step up! In a very special project for i-D and… Continue reading

4/24/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Jose Limon- The Moor’s Pavane

The Moor’s Pavane is a 20-minute ballet based upon the tragedy Othelle by William Shakespeare. The ballet was choreographed by Jose’ Limon in 1949 to music from Henry Purcell’s Abdelazer, The Gordion Knot Untied, and the pavane from Pavane and Chaconne for Strings, arranged by Simon Sadoff.   Continue reading

4/17/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Judith Jamison- Josephslegende (The Legend of Joseph)

Josephslegende (The Legend of Joseph), Op. 63, is a ballet in one act for the Ballets Russes based on the story of Potiphar’s Wife, with a libretto by Hofmannsthal and Kessler and music by Richard Strauss. Composed in 1912–14, it premiered at the Paris Opera on 14 May 1914. Continue reading

4/10/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Dance Theatre of Harlem- Creole Giselle

Arthur Mitchell’s Creole Giselle performed by the Dance Theatre Of Harlem (DTH), and set the traditional story of Giselle in 1841 Louisiana broke barriers with this all African American adaptation.  Continue reading

2/14/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Rainbow Round My Shoulder- Donald McKayle with Mary Hinkson

Donald McKayle’s 1959 masterwork, Rainbow Round My Shoulder, is acclaimed as a modern dance classic. A searing dramatic narrative, it is set on a chain gang in the American south where prisoners work, breaking rock from “can see to can’t see.” Their aspirations for freedom come in the guise of a… Continue reading

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 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… Continue reading

1/3/20 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater- Revelations

Alvin Ailey’s masterwork Revelations (1960), one of the most recognizable modern dance works, remains a powerful testament to the human spirit. This cast includes Marilyn Banks, April Berry, Kevin Brown, Gary DeLoatch, Ralph Glenmore, Deborah Manning, Renee Robinson and Dudley Williams.  Continue reading

12/27/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: I am Legend- Drew Dollaz

This video features Drew Dollaz 0ne of the Flex Pioneers. The video is a metaphor of how he views the world. Using the Concept from the Movie “I am Legend” and putting a dance twist to it. Music by BrunuhVille entitled In to Darkness and edited by ReemGrafix. Continue reading

9/20/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Richie vs Sage BattleFest 35

Richie vs Sage BattleFest 35 Continue reading

8/23/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Misty Copeland – The Arsenio Hall Show (Interview and Performance)

Misty Copeland literally leaped into the public consciousness through a well orchestrated and highly visible media campaign. Her performances with music icon Prince helped catapulted Copeland into the public eye.  Continue reading

8/2/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Boogaloo Shrimp- An Urban Dance Legend

Michael “Boogaloo Shrimp” Chambers a dancer and actor known for his role as Turbo in the 1984 film Breakin and the sequel Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. Continue reading

7/19/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Kyle Abraham- City Hall (5/15/18)

Choreographer/dancer Kyle Abraham takes us on a funky stroll through downtown Manhattan near City Hall to the music of Bosq Featuring Evan Laflamme. Continue reading

7/5/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Infra – Final Duet (The Royal Ballet)

Principal dancers Edward Watson and Marianela Nuñez dance the final pas de deux in Wayne McGregor’s abstract ballet Infra, a moving exploration of emotion, set to Max Richter’s melancholic and beautiful score. Continue reading

8/13/21 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Kassandra Ebony- Urban Vogue

The kinematic street art of vogue dancing performed byKassandra Ebony, directed by Micheal Rice with music by Kevin Jz Prodigy. Continue reading

6/21/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle in Swan Lake (Black Swan Variation)

Svetlana Zakharova and Roberto Bolle in Black Swan variation from the 1953 Bourmeister rendering of Swan Lake. Continue reading

6/7/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Le Jeune Homme Et La Mort

Le Jeune Homme et La Mort, the iconic masterwork choreographed by Roland Petit featuring Nicolas Le Riche and Marie-Agnès Gillot as Death. With a libretto by Jean Cocteau and choreography by Roland Petit, the 1946 ballet Le Jeune Homme et la Mort is a highly theatrical mix of post-war existentialism and chic.… Continue reading

5/17/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Nicholas Brothers- Lucky Number (1936)

The Black Network (1936) the all-black musical short starring Nina Mae McKinney and including this dance number with the Nicholas Brothers, a fifteen-year-old Harold and twenty-two-year-old Fayard Nicholas, perform the song Lucky Number. Continue reading

5/10/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Paula Abdul’s Performance – 2019 Billboard Music Awards

Paula Abdul closed the 2019 Billboard Music Awards with a six-song medley of her hits. Continue reading

4/22/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Apollo (1968)- Suzanne Farrell, Peter Martins, Marnee Morris, and Karin Von Aroldingen

Apollo, one of George Balanchine‘s early masterpieces, filmed in Montreal in 1968 the cast included a very young Suzanne Farrell, Peter Martins, Marnee Morris, and Karin Von Aroldingen. Continue reading

4/24/19 O&A NYC DANCE: Fosse- Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen

Fosse– A 2001 Broadway tribute to the work of Bob Fosse and dedicated to Gwen Verdon. Including appearances by Ann Reinking and Ben Vereen. Continue reading

3/5/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Appalachian Spring- Martha Graham Dance Company

To celebrate the 93th Season of the Martha Graham Dance Company, April 2 through April 14 at the Joyce Theater, O&A NYC Magazine reposts Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring. Appalachian Spring premiered on October 30th, 1944, at the Library of Congress, Coolidge Auditorium in Washington DC, with Martha Graham dancing the lead… Continue reading

3/29/19 O&A NYC DANCE: Agon – pas de deux ( Heather Watts and Mel Tomlinson)

New York City Ballet principals Heather Watts and Mel Tomlinson perform George Balanchine’s Agon pas de deux. Continue reading

2/8/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Virginia Johnson in the Creole Giselle

Arthur Mitchell’s Creole Giselle performed by the Dance Theatre Of Harlem (DTH), and set the traditional story of Giselle in 1841 Louisiana broke barriers with this African American adaptation.  Continue reading

1/18/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Infra – Final duet (The Royal Ballet)

Royal Ballet Principal dancers Edward Watson and Marianela Nuñez dance the final pas de deux in Wayne McGregor’s abstract ballet Infra, a moving exploration of emotion, set to Max Richter’s melancholic and beautiful score. Continue reading

1/11/19 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Interview with Gelsey Kirkland (60 Minutes 1987)

Former New York City Ballet dancer Gelsey Kirkland told “60 Minutes” in a 1987 interview. “[Balanchine] knocked on my chest and he said, ‘You know, dear, what is important is to see bones,”‘ … Down to the bone. That is what he believed was truly beautiful.” Continue reading

12/28/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Lil Buck performs Petrouchka at Fondation Louis Vuitton

Lil Buck, ambassador of Memphis Jookin, performed his interpretation of Stravinsky’s ballet Petrouchka on October 29-30, 2016 at the Frank Gehry designed Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Continue reading

(Repost) 12/12/20 O&A NYC 12 DAYS OF NUTCRACKER: Baryshnikov and Kirkland- Grand Pas de Deux

Mikhail Baryshnikov & Gelsey Kirkland perform the Nutcracker, Grand Pas de Deux with American Ballet Theatre (1977) Continue reading

11/23/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Khalia Campbell- Living Her Dream

By Walter Rutledge Dancer Khalia Campbell is living her dream! Years of dedication, sacrifice and ole fashion hard work has taken this Bronx native to her “dream job” as a member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Campbell will make her New York City Center debut during the company’s fall… Continue reading

11/16/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Stormy Weather- Featuring Katherine Dunham And Her Dance Troupe

Stormy Weather is a 1943 film musical produced and released by 20th Century Fox. The movie is considered one of the best Hollywood musicals with an all African-American cast and serve to  showcase of some of the top African-American performers of the time. Continue reading

11/9/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Spectre de la Rose- Rudolph Nureyev and Denise Jackson

Le Spectre de la rose (English: The Spirit of the Rose) about a young girl who dreams of dancing with the spirit of a souvenir rose from her first ball. Jean-Louis Vaudoyer wrote the ballet story. Continue reading

11/2/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Lindy Hop Hellzapoppin

Hellzapoppin (1941) the Universal Pictures adaptation of the Broadway musical  directed by H.C. Potter with a cast that includes Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson who produced and starred in it on Broadway) and Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers. Continue reading

10/12/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Tap Heat

Tap Heat, a 14 minute award winning short film starring Arthur Duncan and Jason Samuels Smith that uses dance as dialogue. Different styles of tap, Urban Funk and Traditional Tap, are in conflict where society has decided to accept one style over another. The characters and their styles ultimately find common… Continue reading

10/5/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY- ENCORE: Royal Ballet Artist Joseph Sissens Performs Charlotte Edmonds’ ‘jojo’ (Excerpt)

Jojo, a contemporary solo by Charlotte Edmonds set to Chinese Man’s Pandi Groove created on a classical ballet dancer, Joseph Sissens. The work gelled in a very comfortable, spontaneous way, albeit more Michael Jackson than Marius Petipa. Continue reading

10/5/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Lil Buck by Vernie Yeung

Lil Buck, the Bessie Award winning performer, mastered the local dance tradition of Jookin from the streets of Memphis. Nicknamed “street ballet” for good reason, Lil Buck has become a rising star in the dance world, having performed in ads by the likes of Louis Vuitton and Apple. His latest venture  invited… Continue reading

9/21/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Paula Abdul- Straight Up (Late Late Show 2018)

Paula Abdul presented a show stopping version of her signature hit, Straight Up, on Wednesday’s Late Late Show, adding ensemble choreography and subtle electronic elements to the 1988 single. Continue reading

9/11/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Alvin Ailey: Awassa Astrige / Ostrich by Asadata Dafora

Sierra Leone-born choreographer Asadata Dafora blended his vision of a traditional African dance with Western staging in this groundbreaking 1932 solo set to Carl Riley’s score of African drumming and flute and performed Ailey dancer by Antonio Douthit-Boyd.  Continue reading

9/6/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Storyboard P- Rockaway

Storyboard P. performs Rockaway the Bessie Award winning dancer/choreographer has taken his “Mutant” style beyond urban dance battles.  Continue reading

8/31/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Paul Taylor Dance Company- Prometheus Fire (Movement One)

Promethean Fire (2002) is my favorable Paul Taylor work and a fitting tribute to the genius of  modern dance’s Gentle Giant.  Continue reading

8/24/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Magic vs Dice KOBK 11 left 4 dead 2 (Dance Battle)

Kill or be Killed 11 Left 4 Dead 2 Tournament, 16 dancers are battling for a new belt legacy. The 1st kobk champion for over a year now has faced a bigger challenge this year . Shout to all the dancers and supporters that came out and showed love congratulations… Continue reading

8/24/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Magic vs Dice KOBK 11 left 4 dead 2

Kill or be Killed 11 Left 4 Dead 2 Tournament, 16 dancers are battling for a new belt legacy. The 1st kobk champion for over a year now has faced a bigger challenge this year . Shout to all the dancers and supporters that came out and showed love congratulations… Continue reading

8/10/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Leonard Cohen- Dance Me To The End Of Love

This passionate duet is set to Leonard Cohen’s Dance Me To The End of Love. Continue reading

7/26/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY ENCORE PERFORMANCE: Le jeune homme et la mort by Roland Petit (Zizi Jeanmaire & Rudolf Nureyev)- 1966

Le Jeune Homme et La Mort was choreographed by Roland Petit  choreographed in 1946 to Bach’s Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 582, with a one-act libretto by Jean Cocteau. It tells the story of a Young Man driven to suicide by his faithless lover. Sets were by George Wakhevitch and costumes variously reported as being by… Continue reading

7/20/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet Balcony Scene – Featuring Marcia Haydee and Richard Cragun

Balcony scene from John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet featuring Marcia Haydee and Richard Cragun with music by Sergei Prokofiev. Continue reading

6/15/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY:  Philadanco Performs Christopher Huggins’ Latched at TEDxPenn

Philadanco performs Latched (2014) by resident choreographer Christopher Huggins at TEDxPenn. Continue reading

5/4/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Maya Plisetskaya Dances Bolero, And The Dying Swan

Maya Plisetskaya, Prima Ballerina Assoluta of the Bolshoi Ballet, danced Maurice Bejart’s Bolero set to the famous Ravel score in 1975. Plisetskaya created a stunning theatrical experience. What makes the piece so compelling is that although Plisetskaya may be accompanied by dozens of other dancers mirroring her movement, the first and… Continue reading

4/6/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Anthony Dowell and Natalia Makarova- A Perfect Partership

Two great artists perform excerpts from three works; Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Sir Frederick Ashton’s  A Month In The Country and Act 3 Swan Lake.  Continue reading

3/30/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Chasito vs Lil Storm – BattleFest 46

  Chasito gave Lil Storm the business at Battlefest 46. Its wonderful to see the youth get into dance. This is good parent-child bonding; spending time to together is one of the best forms parenting.Who knows maybe they will follow sin their fathers’ footsteps. Continue reading

2/16/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Qualia- Melissa Hamilton and Eric Underwood (Royal Ballet)

Qualia, meaning a raw and sensory experience, marked Wayne McGregor’s debut on The Royal Opera House stage. Featuring a sensorial pas de deux that was originally created for Edward Watson and Leanne Benjamin, Qualia was most recently performed by Melissa Hamilton and Eric Underwood.  Continue reading

2/9/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Giselle’s Mad Scene- Virginia Johnson and the Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dance Theatre of Harlem presented the Creole Giselle in 1987 the world transported the classic ballet from the medieval Rhineland to the Louisiana bayous of the 19th century. In this production the cast includes Virginia Johnson- Giselle, Eddie Shellman- Albrecht and Thera Ward- Bathilde. Continue reading

1/26/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: An Afternoon With Arthur Mitchell

By Walter Rutledge I believe that children are our future; Teach them well and let them lead the way. Show them all the beauty they possess inside. Give them a sense of pride, To make it easier; Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be. George Benson-… Continue reading

1/12/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY EXTRA: Yuri Soloviev and Natalia Makarova- Les Sylphides pas de deux (1964)

Natalia Makarova and Yuri Soloviev  perform Les Sylphides pas de deux from the 1964 Russian documentary The History of Russian Ballet. Continue reading

1/12/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Motion Dancer Refat Abdullayev

Motion Dancer Refat Abdullayev on got Talent as he performs an amazing emotional dance routine on Poland’s Got Talent 2017. We see the influence of urban American of the contemporary dance scene.  Continue reading

1/5/18 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Manon- The Royal Ballet- Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell (1982)

Manon, choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMilan, was his second three-act ballet as artistic director of the Royal Ballet. He based his scenario on the 1731 novel by the Abbé Prévost, L’Histoire du Chevalier des Grieux et de Manon Lescaut. MacMilan had chosen Antoinette Sibley as Manon and Anthony Dowell as… 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… Continue reading

10/27/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Eleo Pomare

Rare footage of choreographer Eleo Pomare conducting a master class and interview. The cast includes a young Dyane Harvey Salaam (with short hair- life moves in circles).   Continue reading

10/20/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Diana Vishneva- The Rubies

Diana Vishneva performs the Rubies section from George Balanchine’s Jewels.   Continue reading

One Comment

  1. Walter:
    Greetings from Detroit. It was so wonderful connecting with you again after so many years. Thank you so much for your coverage of, “A Day of Dunham” this past weekend in Atlanta.
    Please add me to your mailing list. I perused your magazine and find it fascinating. I look forward to hearing from you, and I will tell many others about this great magazine!

    Much Love,
    Penny Godboldo

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