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"Purlie Victorious." The following year, when chorus member Georgeįaison left the show to form the Universal Dance Experience, Allen became The chorus in "Purlie," the musical version of Ossie Davis' She would develop her talents as a dancer, actress, and singer in herĪppearances on Broadway, and eventually in television shows and movies.Īllen's Broadway experience began in 1971 when she became a member of After graduating in 1971, Allen relocated to New York City where Students at the university and with choreographer Michael Malone's dance During her college years, she continued to dance with University (1971) with a concentration in classical Greek literature, Was admitted on a full scholarship and became the company's first blackĪfter high school, Allen hoped to attend North Carolina School of Arts,īut when she was rejected she decided to pursue a B.A. Reauditioned for the Houston Foundation for Ballet in 1964, and this time

To Mexico City where she danced with the Ballet Nacional de Mexico.

Allen began learning dance by studying privately withĪ former dancer from the Ballet Russes and later by moving with her family

Her role as Claire Huxtable on the television series THE COSBY SHOW.Īs a child, Allen tried to take ballet classes at the Houstonįoundation for Ballet, but she was rejected for reasons her mother thought Her sister, Phylicia Rashad, became well known for Debbie Allen was born in Houston, Texas, where her father, AndrewĪllen, was a dentist and her mother, Vivian Ayers Allen, was a Pulitzer