Debbie Allen Dance Academy: Nurturing Artistic Excellence and Transforming Lives
The Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) is more than just a dance school; it's a transformative institution dedicated to enriching, inspiring, and changing the lives of its students through dance, theater, and performance. With a focus on disenfranchised Black and Latino communities, DADA provides a world-class arts education that fosters discipline, creativity, and self-confidence, principles that empower individuals for life, regardless of their career path.
Mission and Principles: A Foundation for Life
DADA's mission is deeply rooted in the belief that arts education is essential for developing well-rounded individuals. The Academy's founding principles emphasize the importance of discipline, creativity, and self-confidence, qualities that are invaluable in all aspects of life. Whether a student aspires to a professional performing arts career or chooses a different path, the skills and values instilled at DADA will serve them well.
DADA believes a combined academic and performing arts curriculum will benefit young aspiring dancers to foster a life-long love of learning.
Programs: A Comprehensive Curriculum for All Ages and Abilities
The Debbie Allen Dance Academy offers a wide array of programs designed to cater to dancers of all ages and abilities. From foundational classes for young children to rigorous training for aspiring professionals, DADA provides a supportive and challenging environment for students to discover their inner artist.
EARLY BIRDS: Designed to inspire children between ages 3 and 7 seeking foundational skills in dance through technique, musical exercises, teamwork and play. Students must take 2 - 7 classes weekly.
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ACADEMY: The Academy provides a comprehensive curriculum for the committed student, ages eight and up. All students are required to take 9 - 10 classes weekly.
CONSERVATORY: The Conservatory Program allows the dedicated student to increase their focus on technique and artistry through a rigorous curriculum centered on Classical Ballet and Modern Dance.
RED BIRDS: Hand selected by Debbie Allen, the Red Birds Program allows the dedicated student to increase their focus on technique and artistry through a rigorous curriculum. 7 - 13 classes weekly.
OPEN CLASSES: Join us for one of our Open Classes, perfect for students of all ages and skill levels. Explore the world of dance in this exciting and dynamic series with its focus on health and fitness.
ENSEMBLE: Our pre-professional dance company comprised of current students and alumni. Guest performers have included Misty Copeland and Desmond Richardson.
Read also: Explore Debbie Allen's choreographic work
SONS OF DADA: Our signature scholarship program for young male dancers with training in ballet, African, hip hop, tap and more. Open to students between the ages of 8 and 13 - audition required.
RISE: Discover the world of musical theatre in this class for students ages 6 to 20 with training in acting, dance, performance and voice under the direction and guidance of Ms. Allen.
INTENSIVES: At DADA, we believe in supporting our dancers with an expansive offering of specialized Intensives designed to hone their skills and broaden their artistry. Sharpen your skills with one of our Workshop Intensives!
RISE Program
The RISE program, Debbie Allen Dance Academy’s Musical Theater program, offers training in acting, dance, performance, and voice for talented artists ages 8-19 who want to develop and improve technical abilities as a singer dancer actor. All aspects of an artist’s experience, from the audition process to backstage etiquette and taking direction, are put into motion under the direction of Ms. Allen and her master teachers. and abroad.
- EARLY RISE: 5 to 7 year olds who have a serious desire to develop skills as a singer dancer actor. Must be able to hold attention and take direction.
Audition Requirements:
- EARLY RISE: 2.5 min max: sing a song a cappella, read a poem, demonstrate dance ability.
- RISE: 3 min max: 1 minute a cappella song, 1 minute dance, 1 minute monologue.
Callbacks are TBD; scheduled after video submission review.
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Conservatory Program Details
The Conservatory Program focuses on Classical Ballet and Modern Dance. Must have a solid understanding of ballet terminology. Class curriculum includes technique, pointe (at the discretion of the artistic faculty), variations, modern, conditioning, repertoire, plus a culminating talk back. This year participants trained under ballet masters Lauren Anderson (Houston Ballet), Hasmik Amirian (formerly Armenian National Opera Ballet) and Petra Conti (Director Hollywood Ballet; formerly La Scala, Boston Ballet). Plus DADA artistic faculty - Karen McDonald (Academy Director) and Rasta Thomas (Sr.
The Debbie Allen Middle School: A Unique Academic and Arts Education
The Debbie Allen Middle School for the Arts is an independent, tuition-based, private school for aspiring young dancers in grades 6 through 8. The academic program is designed to provide a challenging, rigorous, and exciting curriculum that will propel students to excel and be successful at the high school level.
The Debbie Allen Middle School academic program will have the foundation for students to have a superior and quality arts education experience in dance and the theatre arts.
- Tuition: Tuition for the 2045-2025 school year is $25,000.
- Enrollment: Each grade level will be capped at 15 students with an annual total enrollment of 45 students.
- Location: All classes are held on-site at the RHIMES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 1850 S. Manhattan Pl., Los Angeles, CA 90019.
In August of 2021, DADA began their middle school academic program starting with students in the 6th grade. In August of 2022, grade 7 was added followed by grade 8 this past August. Students may attend one of our Fall Open House Tours or submit an inquiry below. To read more information about the arts training and curriculum at the Debbie Allen Middle School, click on one of the links below to view our brochure. Fall | Sept. 2 - Dec. Students not enrolled in the Debbie Allen Dance Academy may take up to 3 dance classes per week as part of the RISE curriculum.
The Shonda Rhimes Performing Arts Center: A State-of-the-Art Facility
Gensler partnered with the Debbie Allen Dance Academy to design its new Shonda Rhimes Performing Arts Center, a top-tier arts venue that supports the nonprofit organization’s commitment to expanding the reach of dance and theater arts to enrich the lives of young dancers in the Greater Los Angeles area.
The new 25,000-square-foot performing arts facility triples DADA’s space, expanding from four dance studios to five, larger studios, and also features classrooms, larger staff workspaces and student locker rooms, and a second-level outdoor terrace. At night, the second-story addition, featuring channel glass walls, acts as a lightbox beacon that glows to showcase the dancers inside, creating a captivating billboard for dance.
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