To kick off Columbia’s Multicultural Affairs 2010 Black Heritage Celebration series, Debbie Allen, world-renowned choreographer, actress, humanitarian, director and producer, spoke to students about life as a black woman in the field of the arts and media.

The event was held at the Conaway Center, 1104 S. Wabash Ave., and opened with BreeAnn Ashley, freshman dance major, freely dancing in an elegant, fluid-like white dress to the song “Jezebel” by Sade. Following Ashley’s self-choreographed dance, Allen took the stage and received a warm welcome with a standing ovation by the audience.

“This is a cosmic ecosystem nurturing a generation of young people and creative minds,” Allen said. “I looked you all up and I found they were determined for you to study academics in order for you to understand the philosophy of life, understand human conditions and author the culture of your time. You all will be rewriting the cultural landscape of America by writing music, all you journalists, creative writing people. This is remarkable what we have here.”

Allen described her time growing up as a black woman and emerging artist as “very difficult” in her hometown of Houston. She recalled being perceived as someone who would not be able to master the fine arts.

“My mother told me that we were members of a community called the universe, not Houston, Texas,” Allen said. “With my mother’s words, I grew up knowing things can change.”

Lacrassia Wilderness, sophomore journalism major, said that she was happy that she came to see Allen speak. “I had known a little bit about her; I saw her on ‘The Cosby Show,’ but didn’t know too much,” Wilderness said. “She is so inspirational and I enjoyed every minute of it. She was great.”

Katy Carlson, junior cultural studies major with a minor in black world studies, added that she had also enjoyed the discussion.

“I heard some things about her, but I didn’t know a whole lot,” Carlson said. “Not having known a whole lot before, it was sort of amazing learning how much she’s done and I think it’s a testament to race relations in America.”

Throughout the discussion, Allen encouraged the audience to be active in what is going on in the world around them in order to gain a better understanding of what they want their art to become and how they want it to affect their artistic worlds.

“What is gonna wake you up in the morning or keep you up at night that you’re passionate about that you have to do something?” Allen asked. “You know, I grew up in a time different than yours. I couldn’t go to any movie theater, restaurant or dance class I wanted to. The time in which I grew up, the racial divide in this country made the Republican standoff in Congress look like a polo match.”

As Allen concluded the discussion, she recalled a conversation she had with a producer of a show that she was participating in.  According to Allen, the producer had congratulated her on a nomination for an award for the show, but reminded her, “every day she woke up, she was going to be black.”

“I looked in the mirror. I saw myself, sister, mother, grandmother, Katherine Dunn, Cleopatra … I saw God,” Allen said. “So [the producer’s] telling me because I’m black, I’m carrying a weight. My curvy, wavy, nappy hair helps me to have more energy. Everything about me works for me. I was nominated for that award because of who I am, not his perception of me.”

She added, “You have to know who you lookin’ at when you look in the mirror. You are DNA that goes back for generations—own up to that. It’s not just you, it’s generational. If you can get in tune with that, if you can believe that, then your art is going to be about soul.”

Allen is a three time Emmy Award winning choreographer, and has choreographed for renowned artists such as Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Sammy Davis, Jr.  and Janet Jackson, along with the Academy Awards for 10 years.

She was also appointed by former President George W. Bush in 2001 as a member of his committee on the arts and humanities.