![]() ![]() She also earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Women in Radio and Television.Īllen is married to former NBA star Norm Nixon. Personal LifeĪllen has received several honors for her work, including an honorary doctorate from the North Carolina School of the Arts - where she had originally been rejected. The nonprofit school offers a comprehensive dance curriculum for students ranging in age from 4 to 18, regardless of financial status. In 2001, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles, California. Allen boosted the show to the top of the ratings, continuing to produce and direct the sitcom until its finale in 1993. Then in 1988, Allen stepped behind the camera to direct The Cosby Show spinoff, A Different World - her sister, Phylicia Rashad, had starred as mother Clare Huxtable in the popular franchise of The Cosby Show. ![]() For her role as choreographer on the show, Allen snagged three Emmy Awards for choreography.Īfter Fame was canceled, Allen headlined Bob Fosse's revival of the musical Sweet Charity, for which she was honored with a Tony. The wild success of the film evolved into a successful television spin-off in 1982, in which Allen also co-starred. Her performance earned her a Tony Award nomination, and the critical acclaim necessary to land a role as a dance instructor in the movie Fame (1980).įame won several Academy Awards, and helped launched a dance fad across the U.S. But Allen hit it big in 1980, after she starred in a Broadway revival of West Side Story as Anita. ![]() In 1979, Allen had a brief moment in the spotlight when she landed a small part in Alex Haley's epic television mini-series, R oots: The Next Generation, which discussed race relations in America. She headed straight for Broadway after college, and in 1972 she landed several chorus roles, eventually making appearances on television, in commercials and series. An honor roll student, Allen entered Howard University, and graduated cum laude from the institution in 1971, with a degree in drama. The rejection hit Allen hard, and for the duration of high school, she focused mainly on her studies. Later, however, her application was rejected because her body was "unsuited" for ballet - a criticism often used to discourage Black dancers. At 16, during what she believed was a successful audition for the North Carolina School of the Arts, she was chosen to demonstrate technique for other prospective students. By the time the admissions department discovered the situation, they were so impressed with her skills that they let Allen stay in the program.īut that wouldn't be the end of Allen's segregation struggles. A year later, a Russian instructor at the school who saw Allen perform secretly enrolled the aspiring dancer. Although her performance was good enough for admission, the school denied her entry based on the color of her skin. She was looking for another level of experience.I respect that so much." Struggle With RacismĪfter nearly two years in Mexico, Allen and her family returned to Texas, where the 12-year-old Allen auditioned for the Houston Ballet School. ![]() "She didn't know anybody in Mexico," Allen later recalled in the Washington Post. In 1960, on a whim, Vivian took Allen and her siblings to live with her in Mexico. Under Vivian's watchful eye, the Allen children were expected to complete writing assignments to encourage their creativity, and each of them had to perform household chores to establish independence.Īllen's mother also taught her children to try new things. By the age of 4 she had become determined to be a professional performer, and her parents enrolled her in dance classes at the age of 5.Īllen's parents divorced in 1957, leaving mother Vivian as the main caregiver for Allen and her siblings. Early Lifeĭeborrah Kaye Allen was born on January 16, 1950, in Houston, Texas, the third child of Pulitzer-winning poet Vivian Ayers, and dentist Arthur Allen. She also made other appearances on TV, starring in In the House and Grey's Anatomy. In 2001, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles. The film evolved into a successful television spin-off in 1982, in which Allen co-starred and won three Emmy awards for choreography. Her performance earned her a Tony nomination and landed her a role as a dance instructor in the movie Fame (1980). Actress, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen hit it big in 1980, starring in a Broadway revival of West Side Story. ![]()
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