Monday, March 10, 2025

Debbie Allen Brings Dance and Healing to Eaton Fire Victims

By EDDIE RIVERA

Famed choreographer hopes to bring rejuvenation through movement

Healing comes in so many forms, whether mental, physical or spiritual, and for the scores gathered at Pasadena City College’s Patterson Gymnasium on Sunday afternoon, movement became their means of healing. Under the guidance of renowned choreographer Debbie Allen and her staff from the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA), survivors of the Eaton Fire found solace through dance in her “Dancing in the Light” community class series.

“The inspiration was the wildfires, the devastation of our entire community,” Allen said. “Everyone is sending food, clothes, trying to help them find housing, but how do we help heal their souls? How do we help pull up their spirits? That’s what this program does.”

Allen, a trailblazing dancer, choreographer, and director, is best known for her work on Fame, Grey’s Anatomy, and numerous Broadway productions. Her dance academy, founded in 2001, has become a hub for young dancers of all backgrounds, nurturing talent with an emphasis on discipline and artistic expression.

On Sunday, her mission was to use movement as a way to uplift a community still reeling from the loss caused by the wildfire.

The “Dancing in the Light” initiative welcomed a diverse group of participants, ranging from experienced dancers to complete beginners. “We’ve got some 75-year-olds in there and some seven-year-olds,” Allen said, beaming as she watched the workshop unfold. “It feels really joyous in there.”

Allen and her team led the attendees through a dance routine as one would perform in a professional show,  designed not just to teach technique but to unlock emotion and restore a sense of joy. The session was more about community service, something Allen holds close to her heart.

“I always feel like the Debbie Allen Dance Academy is my church,” she said. “It is where I get the most spiritual upliftment. My entire staff and I—we are something to be reckoned with because we have passion for what we do and for our students. We are determined to keep the spirit of dance alive.”

For those affected by the Eaton Fire, which destroyed homes, displaced families, and left lasting scars on the community, the workshop was a moment of respite. The long road to recovery remains daunting, but Allen hopes “Dancing in the Light” will continue to provide support long after the initial response fades.

“We raise money to do this every place that we go,” she explained. “We’ve partnered with the Broad, the Wallis Annenberg Performing Arts Center, and now Pasadena City College. This was never designed to be a one-off. This is the fourth event of what needs to go on until the end of the year for sure.”

Allen compared the wildfire’s devastation to a life-altering disaster. “This wildfire hit us like a blowtorch,” she said. “It was like our 9/11. Some things you can never replace, but you have to try.”