Debbie Allen

Deborrah Kaye Debbie Allen is an American actress, dancer, choreographer, television director, television producer, and a member of the Presidents Committee on the Arts and Humanities. She is perhaps best known for her work on the 1982 musicaldrama television series Fame, where she portrayed dance teacher Lydia Grant, and served as the series principal choreographer. She currently portrays Catherine Avery on Greys Anatomy. She is the younger sister of actressdirectorsinger Phylicia Rashad.

Allen was born in Houston, Texas, the third child to orthodontist Andrew Arthur Allen Jr. and Pulitzer Prizenominated artist, poet, playwright, scholar, and publisher, Vivian Allen, She went on to earn a B.A. degree in classical Greek literature, speech, and theater from Howard University. She holds honoris causa Doctorates from Howard University and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. She currently teaches young dancers. She also taught choreography to former Los Angeles Lakers dancerturnedsinger, Paula Abdul. Her daughter, Vivian Nixon, played Kalimba in the Broadway production of Hot Feet.

Source: Wikipedia