Debbie Allen

Contribution: a choreographer, director, and dancer who has worked on such projects as 'Fame,' 'West Side Story' and 'Sweet Charity.'

Age: 72

Mini Bio:

Actress, dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen hit it big in 1980, starring in a Broadway revival of West Side Story. Her performance earned her a Tony nomination and landed her a role as a dance instructor in the movie Fame (1980). The film evolved into a successful television spin-off in 1982, in which Allen co-starred and won three Emmy awards for choreography. In 2001, Allen opened the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in Los Angeles. She also made other appearances on TV, starring in In the House and Grey's Anatomy.

[Read her story]

Strong Black Legends: Debbie Allen | Strong Black Lead | Netflix

Debbie Allen Is Using the Arts to Change the Lives of Young Performers