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 Des Grieux, giving them both a copy of Prévost’s novel to read in preparation for their roles. Continue reading
Our Deepest Fears, a poem by Marianne Williamson has been quoted by many humanitarians including Nelson Mandela. In the film Akeelah and The Bee Akeelah Anderson (Keke Palmer) recites the poem at the request of for coach Dr. Joshua Larabee (Laurence Fishburne). Continue reading
Quarantine is the first film in Gabri Christa’s “Another Building” series, which features short narrative dance films that take place in and around historic buildings and sites connected to the Dutch History. An older man looks at his younger self (Kyle Abraham) explore an old quarantine building for enslaved Africans. Continue reading
The Nutcracker, also known as George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, is a 1993 American Christmas musical film based on Peter Martin’s stage production and directed by Emile Ardolino. The film stars Darci Kistler, Damain Woetzel, Kyra Nichols, Bart Robinson Cook, Macaulay Culkin, Jessica Lynn Cohen, Wendy Whelan, Margaret Tracey, Gen Horiuchi, Tom Gold and the New York City Ballet. Continue reading
The Nativity Story is a 2006 biblical drama film based on the nativity of Jesus, directed by Catherine Hardwicke and starring Keisha Castle-Hughes and Oscar Isaac. The film was released on December 1, 2006 after it premiered in Vatican City November 27, 2006.
Know Your History: Jesus Is Black; So Was Cleopatra, a 2007 stand-up comedy film starring comedian Paul Mooney and directed by Bart Phillips; was filmed live at The Laugh Factory. Continue reading
The Stair Dance featured in Harlem Is Heaven (1932): one of the first movies to ever feature an all-black cast, this film also boasts one of the earliest recorded versions of Bill Robinson’s famous stair dance routine, where he tapped up and down two flights of five steps joined by a shared platform. Continue reading
Salma Hayek did not have a choreographer for her dance. Director Robert Rodriguez just told her to feel the music and dance to it. Rodriguez would later use the same tactic with Jessica Alba in Sin City (2005). Continue reading
Michael Jackson performs Billie Jean in Brazil on the South American leg of his 30th Anniversary tour (2001). Continue reading
Paula Abdul talks about choreographing Coming To America, “This was one of my moments of having to really prove myself, because I was still pretty new in my career as a choreographer. John Landis, the director, wanted the person that choreographed Janet Jackson. I was still a Laker Girl. I went in and he looked at me and said, ‘What are you, a teenager?’ And I said, ‘Yes, I am!’ Continue reading
A Thought Pile Of Junk By Tremaine Emory and Cactus Plant Flea MarketA Thought Pile Of Junk By Tremaine Emory and Cactus Plant Flea Market
The Dance of the Village Elders are back ! This time we exercise, dance and just have fun through the zoom platform or in-person at R.A.I.N. Nereid 
The Dance of the Village Elders are back ! This time we exercise, dance and just have fun through the zoom platform or in-person at R.A.I.N. Nereid 