Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center begins Spring Season May 1

By Walter Rutledge

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The Thelma Hill Performing Arts Center (THPAC) will begin their spring season with PEEKS Works In Progress on Thursday, May 1, 7:30pm at the Actors Fund Arts Center, 160 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn. The hour-long presentation will showcase works in development by Ranardo-Domeico Grays and William Isaac. Continue reading

O & A NYC: A Conversation with Philadanco Founder Joan Myers Brown and Author Brenda Dixon Gottschild

By Walter Rutledge

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In The Art of War author Sun Tzu reveals, “…When people are skillfully led into battle, the momentum is like that of round rocks rolling down a high mountain – this is force.” This statement also applies to Philadelphia’s unstoppable force- Joan Myers Brown. Joan Myers Brown and The Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina, a Biohistory of American Performance by Brenda Dixon Gottschild chronicles the evolution of African American dance and culture in Philadelphia. Continue reading

Dance Of The Village Elders Attend Ballet Hispanico Performance

Dance Of The Village Elders

On Sunday, April 20th members of the Dance Of The Village program went to see Ballet Hispanico at the Joyce Theater. Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro offered the group tickets to see the Easter evening performance. 30 members of the program attended the production. Continue reading

Gospel Sunday: Calvary – Richard Smallwood and Vision

GOSPEL SUNDAY

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Richard Smallwood’s music has been recorded by artists such as Destiny’s Child, Yolanda Adams, Karen Clark-Sheard and many more. His recording career began in 1982 with the album The Richard Smallwood Singers. The album spent 87 weeks on Billboard’s Gospel chart. Continue reading

A Conversation with Dance Theatre of Harlem Artistic Director Virginia Johnson (originally posted 2/1/2012)

By Walter Rutledge

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Dance Theatre of Harlem will present their second New York season April 23 through April 27 at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center. The company can best be described as a “Phoenix Rising”. Continue reading

Jamal Rashann Callender: Artist on the Rise

By Walter Rutledge

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Jamal Rashann Callender has been a member of Ballet Hispanico since 2010. He was part of the new wave of dancers recruited at the start of Artistic Director Eduardo Vilaro incumbency. Over the past three seasons Callender has distinguished himself with the company. His clean execution, artistic commitment to the roles, and fashion model good looks have made him a company standout. Continue reading

Sylvia Waters: Artistic Director Emerita Ailey II

By Walter Rutledge

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As Ailey II begins the second week of their two-week New York City season we would like to acknowledge Artistic Director Emerita Sylvia Waters. For  38 years Waters was at the helm of Ailey II during her tenure the company grew artistically and professionally into a world respected company, choreographic laboratory and “dancing boot camp”.  In 2012 shortly before her departure we had an opportunity to talk with her about her career as a dancer, teacher and director.

Ailey II: The Creative Process- Choreographer and Dancer/ a conversation with Benoit-Swan Pouffer and David Freeland

By Walter Rutledge IMG_0795

Paris-born choreographer Benoit-Swan Pouffer and Ailey II dancer David Freeland discuss the creative process following a rehearsal of Rusty prior to the Ailey II New York season April 2 through April 14 at the Ailey Citgroup Theater. Continue reading

(Repost) 4/1/14 O&A NYC DANCE: Martha Graham – Appalachian Spring and Rite of Spring

By Walter Rutledge

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The recent all too-short season of the Martha Graham Dance Company at New York City Center was a resounding artistic success. The company performed two programs of Graham classics and stunning new works by Nacho Duato and Andonis Foniadakis. The Saturday March 22 evening program included two Graham classics Appalachian Spring (1944) and Rite of Spring (1984).  Both works reinforced the fact that Graham was not only as a master craftsman, but also as an artist with a strong sense of classic form, structure and design. Continue reading