Debbie Allen is a Tony award-winning choreographer, director, and dancer who has worked on such projects as Fame, West Side Story and Sweet Charity. Allen was also the producer and director of the iconic television show, “A Different World.” In addition to a multitude of current projects including acting, and directing gigs with Shonda Rhimes, she and husband Norm Nixon  are the founders of  The Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA).  DADA is a non-profit organization committed to expanding the reach of dance and theater arts for young people in the greater Los Angeles area and the world, enriching, inspiring and transforming their lives.

#TBT #thegamechangers @shondarhimes @MaraBrockAkil @AVAETC @IssaRae @essencemag pic.twitter.com/oI28NEHl6U

— Debbie Allen (@msdebbieallen) April 16, 2015

Trained over 160 students from around the world this summer thank you to their families for trusting @DADancAcademy pic.twitter.com/39nvXKs8vL

— Debbie Allen (@msdebbieallen) July 27, 2015

According to their website,

Career Transition For Dancers remains the only nonprofit organization in the US solely dedicated to the career needs of dancers. With offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and a mobile National Outreach Project, they have helped thousands of dancers take their first steps in discovering rewarding second careers.

The 30th Anniversary Pearl Jubilee will be a star-studded celebration; a variety retrospective featuring artists in performance with the Jubilee Orchestra. This one-night-only entertainment event of the season will celebrate ROLEX’s distinguished past Award recipients and honor the legacy of dance, dancers and the mission of the organization. The gala will be produced and directed by international director, choreographer, producer and teacher Ann Marie DeAngelo.  Executive Producer is Alexander J. Dubé.  Attendees can expect special appearances and artists from:  All That Jazz from Chicago; American Ballet Theatre; Arthur Murray Dance Center, Columbus Circle; Big Apple Circus; Jazz Roots Dance Company; Joffrey Ballet Concert Group; National Dance Institute; New York Song & Dance Company and Parsons Dance.

https://twitter.com/ctfdusa/status/625753897609637894

For more information about the organization or the event click here .

The post Debbie Allen to be Honored at 30th Anniversary Pearl Jubilee appeared first on Broadway Black.

James, an alumni of the famous Tisch School of the Arts at NYU, has just completed a run in Les Miserables on Broadway.  Other performances include :Romeo and Juliet (Stratford Festival), Caesar and Cleopatra (Stratford Festival), The Wiz (La Jolla), and many others.

PRELUDES is written by Dave Malloy and developed with and directed by Rachel Chavkin with Or Matias  on piano.  This new piece will play for a limited engagement May 23-July 19, and opening on June 15, 2015 at the LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater in the Claire Tow Theater.

There is nothing we love to see more here at Broadway Black than actors of color having the opportunity to play roles that offer a little more variety. If you are able to see this show, you should take it in- not just for the sheer talent quotient of the cast (AMAZING), but to show the world that we are more diverse than we are sometimes given credit for.
All tickets for this production are $30 and can be purchased at www.lct.org/shows/preludes/  LTC is located at 150 W. 65th St. NYC, NY.

You can also follow her on Twitter @nikkimjames .

The post Nikki M. James Takes The Stage In PRELUDES appeared first on Broadway Black.