Editing Debbie Allen (section)

==Early life==
Allen was born in [[Houston|Houston, Texas]], the third child of orthodontist Andrew Arthur Allen and [[Pulitzer Prize]]-nominated artist, poet, playwright, scholar, and publisher, [[Vivian Ayers Allen|Vivian (née Ayers) Allen]].<ref name="LawrenceM-CJ-1999-09-12">Lawrence, Muhammad. "One-woman dynamo". ''[[The Courier-Journal]]'', September 12, 1999</ref> She earned a [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]] degree in classical [[Greek literature]], speech, and theater from [[Howard University]] and studied acting at [[HB Studio]] in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hbstudio.org/about-hb-studio/alumni/|title=HB Studio - Notable Alumni &#124; One of the Original Acting Studios in NYC|access-date=January 11, 2019|archive-date=February 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190212150453/https://hbstudio.org/about-hb-studio/alumni/|url-status=live}}</ref> She was a member of [[Chi Delta Mu]] Health Professional Fraternity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hustorage.wrlc.org/disk1/ybkflip/dhu.hua.ybk_1971/mobile/ |title=1971 Bison Yearbook p 238 |access-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-date=May 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513101312/https://hustorage.wrlc.org/disk1/ybkflip/dhu.hua.ybk_1971/mobile/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She holds ''[[honoris causa]]'' doctorates from [[Howard University]] and the [[University of North Carolina School of the Arts]].

=== Challenges ===
Debbie Allen auditioned at the [[Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy|Houston Ballet Academy]] at the age of twelve but was denied admission. After another chance, she was admitted a year later by a Russian instructor who accidentally saw her perform in a show.{{citation needed|date=September 2017}} Once recruiters from the academy became aware of the situation, they allowed her to stay because they recognized her talent. While at the academy, she trained under [[Suzelle Poole]].

[[File:Debbie Allen 1983.jpg|thumb|Allen in 1983]]

Her experience at the Houston Ballet Academy is not the only time Allen was refused. When she was sixteen, she had a successful audition for the North Carolina School of the Arts and was given an opportunity to demonstrate dance techniques to other prospective students applying to the institution. However, she was refused admission and was told her body was not suited to ballet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/allen-debbie-1950|title=Allen, Debbie (1950- ) {{!}} The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed|website=www.blackpast.org|date=December 6, 2012|language=en|access-date=November 27, 2018|archive-date=May 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522112053/http://www.blackpast.org/aaw/allen-debbie-1950|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/29/arts/television-debbie-allen-chips-away-at-the-glass-ceiling.html|title=TELEVISION; Debbie Allen Chips Away At the Glass Ceiling|last=Dunning|first=Jennifer|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 29, 1992|access-date=November 27, 2018|language=en|archive-date=June 10, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610230257/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/29/arts/television-debbie-allen-chips-away-at-the-glass-ceiling.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After numerous rejections, she decided to focus on her academic studies and was on her way to the start of her acting career.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.biography.com/|title=Famous Biographies & TV Shows - Biography.com|website=Biography|language=en-us|access-date=March 30, 2017|archive-date=December 24, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20141224205226/http://www.biography.com/people/joel-edgerton-21002231|url-status=live}}</ref>