Nō Studios Founder John Ridley leads Legendary Hollywood veteran Debbie Allen through a wide-ranging inspirational career review
Nō Studios members and sponsoring partners were treated to a fascinating walk-through of the career of legendary Debbie Allen whose three decades-career spans acting, directing, choreography, producing in television, film and on Broadway. She’s also choreographed the Academy Awards a record ten times!
The mutual admiration between Nō Studios founder and Oscar winner John Ridley and Ms. Allen was on full display during their Tuesday, August 11th virtual interview. This was the latest in Nō Studios The Creative BOSS series.
Formative years
Ms. Allen recounted her formative years in Houston, TX before her mother uprooted her and her equally well known, sister Phylicia Rashad, and brother, and headed to Mexico City, Mexico to live for a while. Her plan was to expose them to more than the “segregation restraints” of the U.S. She fondly recalled her mom and how she taught her daughters how to be fearless and stand up for themselves.
Approaching art with fearlessness
“If you’re not fearless about your art, you’re only going to copy someone else,” Ms. Allen said. The discussion veered to Ms. Allen’s passion for acting. Her advice: learn from the greats. She began watching legendary actresses like Joan Crawford and Betty Davis in darkened movie theaters. “I watched every day for months,” she recalled.
Ms. Allen applied the same intensity to learning how to direct. Her talents were on full display on A Different World, a spinoff from The Cosby Show. The show was groundbreaking in its story lines, featuring students at a fictitious historically black college (HBCU). Ms. Allen pointed out that a TV show set on a college campus had to touch upon politics.
The show was created at a time when representation of African-Americans in Hollywood was paltry, particularly, behind the camera. Ridley accentuated the point, “This was NBC Thursday nights. 40% audience share in the late 80s-early 90s. With 20-30 million viewers.”
Ms. Allen also discussed her invitation from leading creator and showrunner Shonda Rhimes, who asked her to executive produce and direct episodes of Gray’s Anatomy starring Ellen Pompeo and an amazing cast. She also directed another Shonda Rhimes mega-hit, Scandal, starring Kerry Washington.
Art in an age of coronavirus
Ms. Allen is following her passion, dance, with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA). When the coronavirus pandemic hit, she was forced to quickly pivot and began to teach dance classes live on Instagram. “DADA has become my real purpose in life,” she said. “I’ve developed thousands of people. I’ve given up directing movies because of my commitment to the kids.”
DADA serves ages 3 to 93. Many alumni have gone on to perform as dancers and choreographers and producers in Disney shows, and beyond. “DADA is giving young people a sense of their voice and responsibility,” Ms. Allen said.
Mentioning the late, great Kobe Bryant, Hall of Famer and short film Oscar winner, she noted, “He understood what the arts did for him. The arts are for us to raise up.”
Art as Activism
I’ve been a member of Nō Studios since its doors opened in October 2018, initially grabbing a table and writing on my laptop as construction members carried supplies past me. I’m one of many members in the Milwaukee area, throughout the country and beyond, that are thrilled with John Ridley’s investment in the arts and his vision to uplift artists.
During the interview, I found myself reflecting on art as activism when Ms. Allen suddenly shouted, “Kamala Harris.” I later found out that just an hour or so before, democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden had selected Kamala Harris, a Howard University grad, like Ms. Allen, as his running mate. We’re witnessing a historic moment that our ancestors and allies fought for, with the crowning of an African American/Asian American as a VP pick for a major political party.
“We’re on the cusp of amazing things,” Ridley smiled. “And you are the definition of someone who’s taken their talents…and still has so much you want to do.”
Future partners?
Yes, please. Ridley ended the webinar with this thought, “I love dance. We would love the opportunity to work with you professionally.”
Webinar participants are encouraged to consider a donation to Debbie Allen Dance Academy. All donations are tax deductible.
