Today, January 5 is the 94th birthday of choreographer Alvin Ailey. O&A NYC shares rare video footage from a 1985 interview. The one-way dialogue between Alvin Ailey, founder of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater took place in Cairo, Egypt. (Note: We only hear Ailey’s answers; not questions asked). He talks about his life, his dance school, the motivational forces behind his choreography and theories of dance. Continue reading
Interim Artistic Director Matthew Rushing premiered his fifth ballet, Sacred Songs, for the Alvin Ailey American dance Theater (AAADT) on December 20, 2024. Today Friday, January 3, is the last opportunity this season to see this new work which uses the deleted music from the original production of Revelations. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
The 2024 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s (AAADT’s) New York City Center fall season presented four premieres by two former company members Hope Boykin and Jamal Roberts, master choreographer Lar Lubovitch, and AAADT Associate Artistic Director Matthew Rushing. Rushing’s Sacred Songs, an ensemble work with an interesting twist, is set to the music edited from the original version of Alvin Ailey’s and AAADT’s signature work Revelations. Sacred Songs it made its debut on December 20th, was the last of the four new works to premiere, and it was worth the wait. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is now halfway through their 66th New York season at New York City Center. In the 18 remaining performances this season, which runs until January 5, the company will present 19 works by 12 choreographers. The fall/winter Ailey season has become one of New York City’s annual holiday traditions. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Alvin Ailey dancer emeritus Dudley Williams would have celebrated his 85 birthday on August 18th. And although time is a very fickle and forgetful mistress Dudley remains of one the stars of the “Golden Age” of the Ailey company. His name is synonymous with dancers and choreographers such as Talley Beatty, John Butler, Louis Falco, George Faison, Miguel Godreau, Judith Jamison, Linda Kent, Kelvin Retardier,|Clive Thompson, Sara Yarborough, Estelle Spurlock and Donna Wood to name a few.
By Walter Rutledge
Happy Birthday renaissance man Geoffrey Holder. The dancer, actor, choreographer, director, visual artist and all around force of nature was born on August 1st, 1930 in Port of Spain; the capital city of the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Ailey II began their six-day, eight performance New York City season Tuesday, April 9th at the Joyce Theater. This season marked the fiftieth anniversary of the company, which has left an indelible mark on the Ailey organization and the dance world at large. The company is a dance finishing school, touring boot camp, and a choreographer’s laboratory for emerging dance makers and established choreographers. Continue reading
By Walter Rutledge
Another bout of Covid (our third slow dance) prevented me from seeing the new works presented during the first and second weeks of the Ailey season. When Covid and I finished our Rumba, I attended an All-Ailey matinee featuring four works, Night Creature, Cry, Survivors and Revelations. Continue reading
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
Alvin Ailey revolutionized the world of dance by honoring the African American experience, but his journey was not without its struggles. Continue reading
This dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. 
The Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company returns for its tenth engagement at The Joyce. Since its founding in 2012 by Daile Carrazana, Osnel Delgado, and Fernando Sáez, the company remains committed to nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography. Joyce TheaterThis dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. The Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company returns for its tenth engagement at The Joyce. Since its founding in 2012 by Daile Carrazana, Osnel Delgado, and Fernando Sáez, the company remains committed to nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography. Joyce TheaterThis dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. The Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company returns for its tenth engagement at The Joyce. Since its founding in 2012 by Daile Carrazana, Osnel Delgado, and Fernando Sáez, the company remains committed to nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography. Joyce TheaterThis dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. A thrilling evening of Cuban dance featuring premiere works by bold choreographers, accompanied by live music from the Alma String Quartet and Aldo López-Gavilán and Ilmar Gavilán, this program brings “stirring new ideas about movement, dance, and the intermingling of social and individual relationships” (CVNC). Joyce Theater
All Style Of Dance: Breaking, Krump, Litefeet, Afrobeat, Popping, Jookin, Jousr, Vogue, Jerz ClubAll Style Of Dance: Breaking, Krump, Litefeet, Afrobeat, Popping, Jookin, Jousr, Vogue, Jerz ClubThe Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company returns for its tenth engagement at The Joyce. Since its founding in 2012 by Daile Carrazana, Osnel Delgado, and Fernando Sáez, the company remains committed to nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography. Joyce TheaterThis dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. A thrilling evening of Cuban dance featuring premiere works by bold choreographers, accompanied by live music from the Alma String Quartet and Aldo López-Gavilán and Ilmar Gavilán, this program brings “stirring new ideas about movement, dance, and the intermingling of social and individual relationships” (CVNC). Joyce TheaterThe Havana-based Malpaso Dance Company returns for its tenth engagement at The Joyce. Since its founding in 2012 by Daile Carrazana, Osnel Delgado, and Fernando Sáez, the company remains committed to nurturing new voices in Cuban choreography. Joyce Theater
A dance and fitness class for seniors taught by Walter Rutledge Nereid Older Adult Center 720 Nereid Ave, Bronx, NY 10466 This dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. This dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. This dynamic showcase—described as an “extravaganza” by curator Adrienne Edwards—brings together visual art, live performance, music, a range of archival materials, and a multi-screen video installation drawn from recordings of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) repertory to explore the full range of Ailey’s personal and creative life. 
Compagnie Hervé KOUBI performs What The Day Owes To The Night, a gravity-defying work blending capoeira, martial arts, and contemporary dance. Inspired by Algerian author Yasmina Khadra’s novel, What The Day Owes To The Night traces Koubi’s own personal lineage as a French-Algerian choreographer. Joyce Theater