YouTube is celebrating Black History Month by recognizing some of the hitmakers and influencers who have helped shape and define the culture. This Friday, February 26 YouTube Originals, in partnership with Google Arts & Culture, will debut Black Renaissance a new special that will feature powerful performances and inspirational calls-to-action from living legends. Stacey Abrams, H.E.R., Anderson .
Barack, Michelle Obama to appear in YouTube s Black Renaissance thegrio.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thegrio.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
5 Things to Do This Weekend
Our critics and writers have selected noteworthy cultural events to experience virtually.
Feb. 25, 2021
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Dormeshia in “Lady Swings the Blues,” a performance from City Center’s Fall for Dance festival in October that it is rebroadcasting on its website to celebrate Black History Month.Credit.Christopher Duggan
In October, New York City Center reimagined its popular Fall for Dance festival in digital form: Dancers made use of the stage of the empty theater, their performances broadcast to audiences at home. In honor of Black History Month, three of those presentations are streaming again “Lady Swings the Blues” by the brilliant tap artist Dormeshia; Kyle Abraham’s “to be seen,” danced to Ravel’s “Boléro” by Calvin Royal III of American Ballet Theater; and “Morani/Mungu (Black Warrior/Black God)” by Jamar Roberts, a longtime member of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and that company’s resident choreographer.
UPFRONT Inside the Entertainment Industry is all about
#BlackGirlMagic. It features Ailey Extension Director Lisa Johnson Willingham,
Batwoman star Javicia Leslie and Golden Globen nominated actress and star of
The United States vs. Billie Holiday -Andra Day.
The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater presents the
Ailey Experience Atlanta Virtual Weekend taking place now through Sunday evening. Fans and dance enthusiasts alike can take part in several virtual classes taught by Alvin Ailey dancers. Ailey Extention director Lisa Johnson Willingham is here to chat about these classes and workshops and what the company s masterpiece
Revelations means to her this Black History Month.
When the pandemic ended in-person performances, Ailey dancers were among the earliest to appear online.
Now, Ailey Extension and AREA Atlanta present “Ailey Experience Destination Dance Atlanta.” This will be a virtual, multiday festival Feb. 19-21.
“City Lights” host Lois Reitzes spoke with Matthew Rushing, associate artistic director at Ailey, and Lisa Johnson-Willingham, director of Ailey Extension, about the festival.
“Mr. Ailey’s choreography is so accessible. It’s simple and profound at the same time. I really enjoy being able to teach such iconic work to people who may not have been studying as long as professional dancers, but there’s always still room for everyone in Mr. Ailey’s choreography. I’m anticipating having that exchange with the dancers,” Rushing said.