Debbie Allen to Plié in Jamaica — Multi-potentialite excited about nearing trip to island
Published:Monday | June 6, 2022 | 7:51 AMDebra Edwards - Assistant Online and Lifestyle Editor
Debbie Allen is a living legend and deserves her flowers. The dancer, actress, choreographer, director and producer has played a pivotal role in shaping the creative arts sphere for almost half a century and is showing no signs of slowing down. Slated to host a local masterclass for dancers, presented by Plié for the Arts on June 10, The Sunday Gleaner caught up with the 72-year-old multi-potentialite before her scheduled arrival.
“You’ve got big dreams? You want fame? Well, fame costs,” was an epic line from dance instructor Lydia Grant played by Allen in the popular ‘80s television series Fame. Allen has always had big dreams. “I can remember at four years old singing to the birds in the trees in the backyard dreaming of being in one of those MGM musical films. It’s always been in my blood,” she says via Zoom.
Noting her mother raised her and her siblings (her sister is actress Phylicia Rashad) without limitations while seated in the back of a moving vehicle, she quickly takes a bite of her lunch but doesn’t skip a beat with answering questions. Donning a white hat accentuated with pearl earrings, she’s astute with a welcoming mix of warmth and grace.
In the documentary Dance Dreams: The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker, a superb melanin-rich take on the holiday classic The Nutcracker, she tells the students of the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA), “Dancers are the most intelligent people on the planet.” We ask her to elaborate on this statement. “Because we learn to keep our eyes and ears open. We are curious human beings. We come to a creative process by trying to figure it out. We take direction really well. We must always hit our mark. We must go where we have to go, so if we expand on that creativity there is just no limitation to what you can become.” She tilts her head then shrugs and in the humblest way adds, “Look at me. I started as a dancer and now I’m executive producing Grey’s Anatomy, and [doing] all the things that I do, which is very telling.”
BREAKING BARRIERS
The Howard University alumna recalls wanting to be in The Nutcracker as a child, but the chances of her being the sugar plum fairy while growing up in Houston, Texas, were slim, not due to lack of talent, but instead ethnicity. With the understanding that representation matters, Allen decided to make the holiday classic ‘chocolate’ with DADA dancers. “It was a no-brainer because it would give these young people so much opportunity.”
With specific regard to DADA, which recently found a new home in the Rhimes Performing Arts Center, she says, “It is one of the most heartfelt and worthy bodies of work that I have ever done.”
She loves the youth of the world and giving back which is why she is excited about the Plié for the Arts presentation. “I don’t know what to expect. I just come ready to do what I know how to do.”
Allen is no newbie to Jamaica, “I’ve been to Jamaica several times,” she says, “I’m coming for the dance exchange, but I’m also coming for the country because it will be restful for me.”
As we joke about Grey’s Anatomy fans content about Allen’s character Catherine Fox not being written off the show, our conversation turns to her hopes for the future generation. She thinks about her grandchildren and the kids who dance at DADA. “I want them to inherit a planet that is safe, where humanity takes better care of the planet. And then we have to take care of the wars and the fighting. We really have to find a way to stop this.” She pauses then adds, “I want this generation to grow up thinking of not just themselves but their brother, their sister, their neighbour.”
She looks back at her life and is not surprised by her accomplishments because she worked extremely hard to get where she is today.
As we conclude our chat in her best Jamaican accent, Allen says, “I’m coming to Jamaica, mon.” Visit us anytime, Ms Allen.