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SPEAKER_05: Hello, from Wonder Media Network, I'm Jenny Kaplan and this is Womanica. This month we're talking about movers and shakers, dancers, stunt women, martial artists, and other pioneering women who use their physical prowess to shake things up. Today we're talking about a woman who's had a long and eclectic career as a dancer, actress, choreographer, and director. Please welcome Debbie Allen. Debbie was born on January 16th, 1950 in Houston, Texas. Her father, Andrew, was a dentist and her mother, Vivian, was a celebrated writer and poet. Her older sister, Felicia, always thought Debbie would become a dancer. Debbie had such an early enthusiasm for the past time. But growing up in segregated Houston in the 50s meant that most dance schools wouldn't let Debbie in. Two women helped to change that. The first was Patsy Swayze. Yes, Patrick Swayze's mother. When Debbie was just a kid, she would walk by Patsy Swayze's dance school. Debbie would look inside wishing she could join. One day Patsy came out and said, little girl, why are you out there? Debbie apologized, but Patsy told Debbie to show up to class the next day. The other woman who helped change the course of Debbie's life was her mother, Vivian. When Debbie was nine years old, her mother took her and her sister to live in Mexico for nine months. There, the girls could eat at lunch counters and attend dance classes unbothered. Debbie's talent was recognized and affirmed. The experience opened up new possibilities for her. Debbie took her momentum and hit the ground running when the family returned to Texas. By the time she was in high school, Debbie was performing with the Houston Grand Opera Ballet Group in addition to her other extracurriculars. She went on to study at Howard University. One summer she attended the American Dance Festival in Connecticut. There, she met pioneers of contemporary dance and choreography, including Alvin Ailey, Twyla Tharp, and Tally Beatty. As Debbie later told the Washington Post, there was no turning back after that. In 1970, Debbie had her Broadway debut as a member of the chorus in the musical, Pearly. Throughout the 70s, she found roles in theater, TV, and film, but her big break came in 1980 with the film and later TV series, Fame. Debbie played a tough love dance instructor on screen.
SPEAKER_09: But first you have to become a dancer. Now you may be hot stuff up in Harlem, or you may have the best tutu collection in the country. Doesn't matter. I don't have time for prima donnas. You wanna become a dancer? You're going to have to work. Work your little tights off.
SPEAKER_05: Off screen, she choreographed the dance numbers, directed episodes, and served as a role model for the other young actors and dancers. In many ways, Fame was a preview for what was to come. Debbie won several awards for her work on Fame, two Emmys as a lead choreographer, and a Golden Globe for best actress. Then came more knockout musical theater performances, West Side Story and Sweet Charity, which was choreographed by Bob Fosse and another woman we're featuring this month, Gwen Verdon. Debbie had made a name for herself. She was a multi-talented performer with incredible stamina, and her fellow castmates looked up to her as a leader. This reputation helped her land another huge job on a series called A Different World. The show was about life on campus at a historically black college. It was a spinoff of The Cosby Show, which featured Debbie's sister, Felicia, as Claire Huxtable. In 1988, A Different World was starting its second season, and Felicia noticed that morale on set was low. She suggested that her sister join the project as a director. Debbie quickly improved the communication between writers and actors, giving the actors more of a voice and giving the storylines more depth. She helped transform the show into a classic that helped to grow enrollment at historically black colleges and universities by more than 24%. In the early 2000s, Debbie founded the Debbie Allen Dance Academy to create the place she wished she had access to as a child. She built a welcoming and rigorous environment for every kid who walks in. Today, Debbie continues to direct, produce, act, and foster new talent. Each year, her dance company puts on her adaptation to the classic ballet. Debbie calls it the hot chocolate nutcracker. A recent Netflix documentary about the dance company and the annual performance shows what it takes for kids to become artists. A knowledge of dance history, kindness to your classmates, and strong dedication. Debbie tells them, every day is a rehearsal for the rest of your life. All month, we're talking about movers and shakers. For more information, check us out on Facebook and Instagram at Womanica Podcast. And thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co-creator. Talk to you tomorrow.
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SPEAKER_06: It's time for 60 minutes. New episode airs Sunday, September 24th on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.
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