It’s hard to get a good workout when you’re confined to quarters during a pandemic. As social distancing becomes the new norm, opportunities to stay active are few. While there are online concerts and yoga tutorials, there’s only one Debbie Allen. The dance legend is bringing her talents to the masses with free virtual classes.
The actress, dancer, and choreographer, best known for Fame and more recently, Grey’s Anatomy, kicked off her first class on Wednesday via Instagram Live, and tens of thousands tuned in to break a sweat. “All are welcome,” Allen tweeted the day before. “Spread the word. See you on the dance floor.”
The world responded to her invitation. Approximately 34,000 people joined the class live, and nearly 30,000 have viewed the recap she posted the next day, set to the Fame theme song and featuring dancers of all ages who connected from home. A follow-up kids’ class is scheduled for Saturday morning, with another all-ages class planned for next week.
“I’m coming for you!” she exclaimed as the music took off. “Here we go!” After a quick warm-up, consisting of isolations, she elevated the intensity for the duration of the class, concluding with instructions to stretch and reconnect with the earth. “Lay down and feel the energy of the earth…that connects us,” she said. “That was massive.”
Allen is well-acquainted with helping others realize their full potential. She mentors hundreds of young hopefuls at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, a Los Angeles nonprofit that offers regular programming for young children and outreach initiatives designed for senior citizens, cancer patients, and more.
“It’s truly impactful when you’re in a position to bring people along with you,” Allen mentioned in an interview with Oprah Magazine’s McKenzie Jean-Philippe earlier this month. “And that’s essentially what’s happening. I’m moving forward constantly, but I’m taking a lot of people with me.”
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