When Debbie Allen opened the doors to her dance academy in 2000 inside a renovated restaurant in Marie Callender in the city of Culver, there was no other place in the city like this that attended black and Latin communities private.
The school became a shelter for dancers of all the origins that they want to learn from the multifaceted artist, who Chasséd in the Hollywood scene with his performance defined by the race as Lydia Grant in the musical “fame” of 1980. Allen became a winter director and producer of programs such as “Gray's Anatomy” Murder “,” A different world “,” Jane the Virgin “and” Eventbody hate Chris. “
On Sunday Funday, the people of Los Angeles give us a play per game of their ideal Sunday in the city. Find ideas and inspiration about where to go, what to eat and how to enjoy life on weekends.
Fast progress 25 years, the Debbie Allen Dance Academy now resides in a “arts” palace of 25,000 square feet in Mid City in the Rhimes performing Arts Center (named for the former friend and colleague of Allen, Shonda Rhimes). It is more active than ever with a recently accredited high school, an intensive summer program, a Tap festival and an annual vacation show “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker”. Then, Allen will be the host of his third free community block party on June 8 in Washington Boulevard, with dance classes with world -renowned choreographers such as Marguerite Derricks and a Breakdance competition with Silverback Bboy events. And on June 22, Allen will receive Dancing in the Light: Healing with the Arts, a bimonthly event that presents free dance lessons for those affected by forest fires. The event will take place at the Wallis in Beverly Hills and will feature classes taught by Lyrik Cruz choreographers (Salsa), Angela Jordan (African) and Anthony Berry (Hip-Hop).
“It has been wonderful that this community has been able to see and have a little joy,” Allen said during a zoom call from Atlanta, where he was working on a new television pilot.
We meet Allen, who has lived in Los Angeles for almost 40 years, to learn how would spend his perfect Sunday in the city. As when I was a girl who grew up in Houston, on Sundays they focus on the family and spend time with their four grandchildren who “own” their weekends, he said. On the call sheet you are having breakfast in Santa Monica, organizing a free dance class and catching a movie in Westfield Century City.
This interview has been slightly edited by length and clarity.
7 AM: Wake up the grandchildren
On a typical Sunday, I woke up at 7 am my [eldest] The grandchildren spend the night with us every Saturday. I have four grandchildren who have 6, 4 and two who are 6 months old. The little ones are coming to where their parents could let them keep during the night. My room has become a nursery.
First, we deal with our coconut dog. We have a beautiful German black shepherd that is incredible. She is such a good family dog and an incredible guard dog. She just shines, only black pure, and is wonderful with children. So we have to let her out and she wants to play. Then we prepare to go to breakfast.
9 am.: Breakfast time
We always go somewhere for breakfast. Or let's go to a nearby hotel or go to Jam In Santa Monica. They have very fresh crossings, small cookies with currants and buns. They also have very good tortillas and turkey bacon. Then, the people of the neighborhood are there, so we see people we have met and that we have come to know over the years. There is a particular man who is always reading books and we can always have a new idea of a book to read.
11 am: Organize a free dance class
Then we would return and on any Sunday, I could be on their way to dance in light: heal with the arts, where I have been doing these dance classes for all the people who have been affected by the fires. We have been doing this for months and has been incredible. We have had tremendous support from Wallis Annenberg, United Way, Shonda Rhimes, Berry Gordy, so many people who have supported. We do classes everywhere, which begin at 11 in the morning, but if we are not doing the dance event in the light, we sometimes like to go to California Sciences CenterThat children love. It's great because many things are happening now.
2:30 PM: Tennis time
I will return home to catch children with their tennis lesson. They are starting to play this age and is very nice.
5 pm: Early dinner and a movie
We would start preparing family dinner because I have a son who has his 6 -month -old son and my daughter, Vivian, who has his three children. Or we went to dinner. We love to go to Ivy on the shore Because it is very familiar and have many options. We also like to go Chinese. It is a Wolfgang album place. We would have an early dinner around 5 pm if we did not go out to eat, we could go to the movies. Us love Go to the cinema. We are very close to AMC Santa MonicaBut sometimes we will go to [Westfield] Century City Because they have a fantastic food court and children like to go there and choose what they want to eat.
7:30 pm: quality time with mature
We return home and spend time with my mother, whom we call Maturk. She is 101 years old. We played his favorite music because he was a concert pianist. I made a beautiful piece for her at the Kennedy center this year based on her book, “Hawk”, which we published again. It is for sale now. But Gershwin's “Rhapsody in Blue” is his favorite. She played it for me when I was 4 years old, going to sleep in her lap. And my granddaughters are the most beautiful things with mature. They like to pretend that they are caregivers and want to brush their hair. They want to massage their legs. It is something sweet.
8:30 PM: Put yourself up to our favorite programs
After that, it's time to say goodbye to grandchildren. Then my husband and I will accompany ourselves. We are always reading books and seeing several series. We have been seeing “the residence” by Shonda Rhimes lately. We love it! And he is also addicted to the “power book.” If I could choose, I would be in bed at 9:30 pm
