The Nicholas Brothers and Dorothy Dandridge dance in Chattanooga Choo Choo from the 1941 Sun Valley Serenade. The song was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song, and inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996. Continue reading
Tag: Shall We Dance Friday
1/6/17 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Origins of the Moonwalk
Michael Jackson is credited with introducing the Moonwalk at the Motown 25 television special. Here is a brief history of the origins of the 80’s dance craze. Continue reading
12/30/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Love N’ Dance- Flamenco
Love N’ Dancing (2009) is a film about a couple who take part in a competition in the world of swing dancing. The film was directed by Robert Iscove, and stars Amy Smart, Tom Malloy, and Billy Zane. Emmy Award-winning Jeff Bihlman, and scot Little Bihlman contributed 7 original songs to complete the ‘Love N’ Dancing’ soundtrack. Continue reading
(REPOST) 12/16/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Judith Jamison, Kevin Rotardier, and George Faison perform Revelations at the Hollywood Palace (1968)
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood Palace (1968). The episode hosted by Diahann Carroll helped give the then fledgling dance company national attention. The cast included Judith Jamison, George Faison and Kelvin Rotardier. Continue reading
12/9/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland- Nutcracker Grand Pas de Deux
During the 1977 Christmas season, CBS brought Mikhail Baryshnikov’s highly acclaimed American Ballet Theatre production of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet The Nutcracker to television. The production has remains the most popular and most often shown television production of the work in the U.S. Mikhail Baryshnikov performed the title role, with Gelsey Kirkland as Clara.
Continue reading
12/2/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: A Conversation With Solomon Dumas
Solomon Dumas is living his dream. As one of the newest members of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), Dumas is making his New York City Center debut during the 2016 Ailey season November 30 through December 31. Dumas was bitten by the dance bug at age 12 after attending AileyCamp Chicago. Continue reading
11/25/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Revelations Excerpts- Hollywood Palace (1968)
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performed two excerpts from his masterwork Revelations on the weekly television variety show The Hollywood Palace (1968). The episode hosted by Diahann Carroll helped give the then fledgling dance company national attention. The cast included Judith Jamison, George Faison, Kelvin Rotardier, and Dudley Williams. Continue reading
11/11/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Balanchine Jewels (the female variations) Emeralds-Rubies-Diamonds Mariinsky Ballet
Balanchine’s Jewels, the female variations Emeralds (Gabriel Fauré’s Pelléas et Mélisande), Rubies (Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra (1929) by Igor Stravinsky) and Diamonds (Symphony No. 3 in D major (1875) by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky) performed by the Mariinsky Ballet. Continue reading
10/28/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: The Concert- Jerome Robbins/ Frédéric Chopin
The Concert (or The Perils of Everybody), by choreographer Jerome Robbins with music by Frédéric Chopin portrays a cast of quirky characters at a piano recital and their laugh-out-loud antics. The premiere took place at City Center of Music and Drama, New York, on Tuesday, 6 March 1956. Continue reading
10/21/16 O&A NYC SHALL WE DANCE FRIDAY: Jiri Kylian- Stoolgame
Stoolgame, Jiri Kylian choreographed Stoolgame for the Netherlands Dance Theatre in 1974. Continue reading