Debbie Allen

In the year 2001, Debbie Allen founded and created the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA). DADA is a non-profit organization that offers dance classes to children 4 and up. DADA uses dance, theater, and performance to enrich, inspire, and transform the lives of their students. Debbie Allen created this dance academy to allow students to dance and express themselves regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or financial situation. DADA has heavy African American and Latino influence because of where it is located. Allen believes that nothing should hold you back from doing what you love and what you are meant to do. Debbie Allen went through so many struggles and obstacles just to dance. Dance was basically restricted for her because of her skin tone and body type. The Debbie Allen Dance Academy has put on many productions, the most popular one being the “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker”. In the year 2020, “Dance Dreams: Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” went on to be produced on Netflix.