December 15, 2016 

By Zon D’Amour 

Contributing Writer 

For over thirty years, Debbie Allen has danced her way into our hearts. From the onset of her career, Allen has been a multi-hyphenate auteur who seamlessly works in front of and behind the camera as an actress, choreographer, director and producer. From “Fame” to “A Different World” “Girlfriends” and “Grey’s Anatomy”, the Howard University alumna and Houston, Texas native is as active and vivacious as ever. Regardless of her professional success and legendary stature, Allen is passionate about training and empowering the next generation of actors and choreographers through her Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA). With creative outlets like band, art classes and dance classes continuously becoming a lesser part of a school’s curriculum, Allen’s lavish passion project, “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” is not only an empowering musical family event, it’s also a way in which students receive an eye opening opportunity to be exposed to the arts. In an exclusive interview with the L.A. Watts Times, Allen shares the inspiration behind “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker”, as well as the all-star cast and celebrity donors that have helped to bring the production to fruition.

L.A. Watts Times: What differentiates “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” from other holiday productions?

Debbie Allen: We bring a fresh take on such a classic traditional holiday celebration. We’ve made it culturally vibrant and relevant to another generation of young people because it’s not just ballet, it’s hip-hop, there’s contemporary [dance], there’s skating, there’s Cirque du Soleil technique, it’s got all of those elements that get people excited.

LAWT: How involved are you in deciding what actors would bring this production to life?

DA: I cast everyone; I wrote and choreographed the production. I decided on the characters and I just called my friends and people that I loved to use their music and have them write something for us and that wasn’t a very difficult task. Arturo Sandoval and Chau-Giang are amongst the artists that scored the production. My son Norman Nixon Jr. also wrote quite a bit of the music. It’s a labor of love, Ricky Minor has been working on everything DADA. This year is going to be very special, we have Tichina Arnold returning as the mother and Matthew Johnson as the father. And the rats…I’m back again! I said last year was going to be the last year but I’m not getting out of it so easily.

LAWT: So do you direct yourself in “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker”?

DA: Of Course.

LAWT: As an actress on “Grey’s Anatomy”, with your brevity of experience how do you also take direction?

DA: I wear a couple of different hats on “Grey’s Anatomy”, I’m the executive producing director which is a position that requires me to hire the directors and indoctrinate them into the ideal of what we’re looking for on our show; to spark them and inspire them to bring the creative new ideas of things we haven’t done yet. As an actress, I take direction. One of my favorite French directors recently said, ‘Debbie, what are you doing? I don’t believe it!’ and I said, “Okay, I’ll do it again.” I like acting; it’s a whole other ball game.

LAWT: You’ve previously shared that early on in your career there were times where you were overlooked for directing opportunities because you were a woman of color. How does someone not only walk in their purpose when they’re constantly being denied work opportunities?

DA: You have to continue to believe in yourself, know your value and continue to work on honing your skills. I was rejected by everyone but here I sit. So you have to stay in the game, you can’t just fall apart. Hopefully those challenges will make you stronger, it did for me. I grew up with the racial divide in Texas where we couldn’t go to the movie theatre because we were black, we couldn’t go to restaurants, a lot of people have gone through a lot of pain and even died so that we could vote, these things weren’t given we had to go and take it. Change was created diverse group of people who were of every religious background and ethnicity.

LAWT: As a producer, you spent 18 years in the pursuit of bringing the film Amistad, directed by Steven Spielberg, to fruition. Are there any projects that you’re equally as passionate about?

DA: I’m working on “Freeze Frame Stop The Madness” which is a piece that gives a face and a voice to our young people in the inner city and their struggles with gangs, the police, bullying, self worth and how the arts can uplift their lives. We just played to a standing room only crowd at The Kennedy Center. Now we’re trying to raise money to take this production to at least a 10-cities tour to get started. Because it’s a work that will bring people together, help people talk to one another and help find solutions to problems that we’re facing everyday.

LAWT: What’s something profound that someone shared with you that helped to empower you throughout your career?

DA: My mother Vivian Ayers always instilled within her children that our opinions, our thoughts and our ideas about what was possible was important. My mother made me feel that I was important as a thinker at four-years-old. And I instill that within my students everyday. I ask them, ‘What are you dancing about? What in the world makes you laugh and makes you cry? What do you care about? What’s happening the world right now that’s going to affect you that you can make a ballet about or that inspires you to write a song or a play or get politically active?’ Because anyone with a cell phone is an activist.

LAWT: What was the inspiration behind “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” and what makes this production such necessary viewing for people of color, especially a younger generation?

DA: We have to show that what we do is relevant to the world. I’m hoping all of our community will come out because what’s most exciting is for the young people to see themselves through the eyes of their peers on stage.

I chose this story because the Nutcracker is a holiday tradition. While it was a Russian artist that originally created the music, Tchaikovsky scored it, but it was here in America that the Nutcracker became this world wide family phenomenon many years ago through George Balanchine. He realized that a Christmas show would help his company stay alive.

I reinvented [The Nutcracker] based on my son. When he was little, I took him to see The Nutcracker downtown and he was 6-years-old and he was bored to death. He screamed out loud in the middle of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, ‘Mom, when is the rat coming out?’ The boys want to see the rats so I’m giving them “The Real Rat Pack” who are a group of mice that take over the story and change it.

LAWT: How did you decide to have only two show dates, on December 16th and 17th at the Dorothy Chandler theatre?

DA: The venue sits 3,000 people! That’s a big audience. We have a school show and three public performances so hopefully a total of twelve thousand people will see it.      The school show is sold out. We were subsidized by Ms. Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation and the Berry Gordy & The Gordy Foundation. Shonda Rhimes has also been a very generous supporter. Denzel & Pauletta Washington, Will & Jada Pinkett Smith as well as the AIDS Health Foundation underwrote the school shows which is a big deal because it’s about the kids; It’s about them getting to see themselves on stage. We just hope that the community will be attendance for the other shows and fill up those seats!

For tickets to one of the three showings of “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” on Dec.16 at 7:30 P.M. or Dec. 17 at 1:00 P.M. and 7:00 P.M. visit: thehotchocolatenutcracker.com.

December 08, 2016 

By Cora Jackson-Fossett 

Contributing Writer

If your walk with Christ needs a boost or direction, the new book by the Rev. Wayne Chaney, Jr. can provide spiritual guidance.

Chaney just released “Your Miraculous Potential” that aims to outline how people can surpass human limitations and release the power of God into all areas of their life.

As the pastor of Antioch Church of Long Beach, Chaney shares much of the same information with his congregation as well with audiences he addresses all across the nation, all with the goal of helping people become better.

“I believe this book will help with overcoming the obstacles that prevent us from responding to the direction that God gives.  When you put all of the elements together, I believe it will produce results beyond all personal hang-ups, limitations and abilities,” said Chaney.  “That’s what I’ve experienced and that’s what our church has experienced. Lives have been transformed, people have been enriched and we just want to share it with the world.”

Throughout the book, readers will find biblically sound and practical techniques to position themselves to hear the voice of God.  The content covers topics such as dealing with disappointments, failures, laziness and self-consciousness along with strategies to make room for God in your life.

“It’s not often the inability to hear the voice of God, but the recognition of the voice of God.   We talk about best practices to produce clarity in your life.  We rarely unplug in a society where there is sensory overload. We rarely have time to reflect on or pull away from all of the things that compete for our attention.  The book looks at how to create those margins in our life to give room for God to speak and fine-tune those antennas,” he noted.

Both Chaney and his wife, Myesha, apply these principles in their daily living as they raise three children and juggle with busy schedules.  In addition to being a pastor and inspirational speaker, Chaney stars on the reality series, “Preachers of L.A.,” and hosts a weekly show with his wife, “Real Life with Pastor Wayne and Myesha Chaney,” on radio station KJLH 102.3 FM.  Myesha is a recording artist, songwriter, author, worship leader and entrepreneur. 

While their lives may appear overwhelming, they couple stays focused and grounded by following God’s word “to rest on the seventh day,” said Chaney, who shared that his family takes at least one day a week to spend time with each other without interruptions. These periods also allow an opportunity for the Chaneys to hear what God has to say as they apply the spiritual guidance found in “Your Miraculous Potential.”

Several faith leaders have endorsed the book including the Rev. Dr. Kenneth C. Ulmer, presiding bishop of Macedonia International Bible Fellowship and pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood.

“Every once in a while the kingdom of God releases a fresh voice with a fresh vision. Wayne Chaney is the manifestation of this truth. His book is not only an innovative examination of the Word and will of God, but it is presented in an articulate manner that will grip your heart and spirit with higher, deeper, broader, and wider possibilities,” said Ulmer.

“Your Miraculous Potential” is available in bookstores and online at barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com.

December 08, 2016 

Aries 

March 21 – April 19 

You may be able to inspire others to join you in a quest that involves a vacation, new opportunity, or course or workshop. In fact, doing it alone may not be as much fun as taking your friends or sweetheart along. Venus also moves into your social zone this week, so you'll be in the mood to embrace the holiday spirit. Be prepared for lots of invitations to parties and upbeat get-togethers. Also, an offer may come out of the blue.

Taurus 

May 21 - Jun 20 

Your intuition could be trying to tell you something, so it might be a good idea to sit quietly and listen. You could save yourself time or even money regarding a key project or business affair. You might also be assessing the impact of a new habit or exercise routine and how it affects you psychologically. There's a good chance that you feel more upbeat or better within yourself, and this may be something you'll keep up for the month.

Gemini 

May 21 - Jun 20 

You may decide it's time to have some serious fun, especially with Venus in your sector of new adventures encouraging you. Romance could be a possibility when you move outside your comfort zone, whether this means joining a club or mingling with a new bunch of people. Someone may have a serious proposition for you that engages your creative side, so give it some thought. Where business matters are concerned, attend to the details as there could be a misunderstanding.

Cancer 

 Jun 21 - Jul 22 

It looks like this will be a hectic time, one that could bring good news and perhaps an offer you can't refuse. Although your workload could be large, make time to investigate an opportunity that comes out of the blue. It might be the answer to a career dream. Matters on the home front continue to be upbeat and positive, so much so that you might consider a few lifestyle changes to enhance your energy for a busy few weeks ahead.

Leo 

Jul 23 - Aug 22 

The idea of creating positive change in your life could take hold right from the start of December. Key influences could remind you of this and see you looking to make a serious start. Venus, the planet of love and romance, dances into your relationship sector, so the coming weeks could see a surge of warmth and a greater spirit of cooperation. An unexpected guest or exciting opportunity may show up for you, too, but you'll easily take it in stride.

Virgo 

Aug 23 - Sep 22 

Plans to invest in your home, either by redecorating or purchasing some bright and colorful holiday baubles, could put you in a good mood. There could be a serious intention behind such a plan, that of providing a place of warmth and happiness for others to enjoy. Venus moves into your lifestyle sector, so you could find it a lot easier to indulge than you might normally. Looking out for some healthy treats might be a way around this.

Libra 

Sep 23 - Oct 22 

This could be the week when you get down to planning for the holidays. What's more, it seems you'll enjoy doing it. This is certainly wise, as Mercury will turn retrograde on December 19, so preparing early is a must. Venus, your personal planet, enters a dynamic and positive sector of your chart, making this the perfect time for a makeover. If you want to dazzle the competition, choose outfits that emphasize your individuality as well as creativity.

Scorpio 

Oct 23 - Nov 21 

It might be helpful to note any intuitive hunches concerning your finances and how you might make better use of your money. Being a naturally generous person, you could go over the top with gifts unless you set yourself a limit. A key aspect this week encourages you to consider this. With Venus nestling down in your home and family sector, you'll begin to relax into the holiday mood and enjoy getting your place shipshape and ready for guests.

Sagittarius 

Nov 22 - Dec 21 

You could be excited by the prospect of a project that has positive long-term implications. A very upbeat blend of energies gears up at the start of the month and continues to the end. As it affects you personally, you can reap many benefits if you follow through. The emphasis is on constructive change and making slow but steady progress toward a goal that could revolutionize a key aspect of your life. A business event could also prove opportunistic.

Capricorn 

Dec 22 - Jan 19 

You may be involved in a project that could enhance your reputation. The Sun's position in a more private part of your chart hints that this is a time to stand back. You may be having some serious thoughts about your direction and purpose in life and whether this is really what you want. The move of Venus into your money zone could also see you purchasing a few luxuries, perhaps as a treat for yourself or others, and enjoying doing so.

Aquarius 

Jan 20 - Feb 18 

This week, you may be geared up to act on a certain idea - one that could open new doors for you. It isn't something to rush, as it needs patience if it's to work out in your best interests. It may be tempting to take a shortcut, but it isn't worth it. The move of Venus into your sign could encourage you to get a holiday makeover or buy new clothes that enable you to stand out from the crowd.

Pisces 

Feb 19 - Mar 20 

Things seem to be coming together for you to gain a reputation or enhance your standing if you're willing to go through the proper channels. With a focus on accomplishment and achievement, your time in the spotlight may be coming soon, if it isn't here already. The move of Venus into a more secluded sector of your chart could see you reviewing your relationship with yourself and your purpose and mission in life.