9/20/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Fred Astaire & Cyd Charisse- The Girl Hunt Ballet from The Band Wagon (1953)

The dance is called Girl Hunt Ballet from the 1953 film The Band Wagon directed by Vincente Minnelli. It is around 12 minutes long and is a mini-mystery dance. Fred Astaire plays Rod Reilly, a private detective and he is narrating his story, which is unfolding in the dance. Cyd Charisse plays duel roles as both the innocent blonde and the brunette siren. Continue reading

5/17/24 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY SPECIAL: Janet Jackson – Alright

Alright is by R&B artist from her fourth studio album, Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814. Written by Janet  Jackson and Jimmy Jam also Terry Lewis, he song was released on March 4, 1990, by A&M Records as the fourth single from Janet Jackson’s Rhythm Nation 1814. Continue reading

5/14/20 O&A NYC THROWBACK THURSDAY: Janet Jackson – Alright featuring Cyd Charisse, The Nicholas Brother and Cab Calloway

The music video for Alright, filmed in February 1990, was styled to resemble a 1930s and 1950s musical, featured Cyd Charisse, The Nicholas Brother and Cab Calloway in one of his last on-screen appearances. 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

9/19/14 O&A Shall We Dance Friday: Michael Jackson- Smooth Criminal

Shall We Dance

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Smooth Criminal is the seventh single from Michael Jackson’s 1987 Bad album. The song contains a fast-paced beat intertwined with Jackson’s lyrics. It was released as a single on October 24, 1988, and peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100. Continue reading