RASTA THOMAS

On the Trails of Fame in LA

Rasta Thomas and the Magic of Debbie Allen’s Dance Academy

  By Alexandra ZEHETNER

After starting her career on Broadway, Debbie Allen became famous above all with the film Fame (1980) and with the musical-drama television series of the same name, in which she played dance teacher Lydia Grant. In the TV series, she was the producer and director as well as the main choreographer of the dance numbers, and in the remake of the film Fame, she played the school principal Angela Simms. But then came even more – the fame continued and still continues: Debbie Allen, dancer, choreographer, actress, director, author and producer (Grey’s Anatomy) founded her now equally world-famous non-profit dance academy, known as DADA for short, in Los Angeles in 2000.

The 25th anniversary is therefore coming up in 2025, and the numerous DADA alumni, who have since become top international dancers and performers in different fields, are currently being called upon to celebrate the anniversary together. Numerous well-known dancers teach and choreograph at DADA, first and foremost one of the greatest: Rasta Thomas. After his incomparable global career, this exceptional artist is now passing on his expertise as Senior Artistic Adviser at DADA. Debbie Allen was one of his patrons at the start of his career, and now it has come full circle in a wonderful way, with the star making future stars at DADA. We had the opportunity to visit Rasta Thomas in Los Angeles and talk to him exclusively. Incidentally, he was recently appointed an honorary member of the Austrian Dance Council’s Art Advisory Board because of his artistic connection to Austrian dance.

Rasta, please tell us a little about the impressive mission and intentions of DADA and about your everyday life as Artistic Senior Advisor of this Academy.

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