Debbie Allen in association with the Rhimes Family Foundation, announced the grand opening of the new Rhimes Performing Arts Center (RPAC) which will house the Debbie Allen Dance Academy (DADA) on Saturday April 9 at 7 p.m. The evening will be presented by ABC EntertainmentABC Signature and Netflix.

Grand Opening Celebration Features Star-Studded Performances from Tony, Grammy, Emmy and NAACP Award Winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots, Pose), world famous American mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, Tiler’s prick (NYC Ballet), female tap sensations Chloe Arnold‘s Syncopated Ladies, DADA Ensemble and other surprise guests.

The evening also includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony which will feature the Wallis performance space in honor of Wallis Annenberg, DA Fly aerial studio named after Will and Jada Smith, Kobe Bryant “Wall of Light” which highlights major sponsors, Berry Gordy Control room and recording studio and the Chandra Wilson Education Center which is the central space for the Debbie Allen College (DAMS).

“On April 9, DADA will take a giant leap towards fulfilling the dreams of thousands of young aspiring artists, parents, young aspiring artists as well as seasoned professionals as well as our local and global community,” said Debbie Allen. “The PRPP is a state-of-the-art facility that nurtures creativity, technical ability, vision and possibility.”

“I am beyond proud to support the Debbie Allen The new home of the Dance Academy – the Rhimes Performing Arts Center. At DADA, the program is a haven of discipline and acceptance where – no matter their size, ability or economic status – young girls and boys grow into hardworking, conscientious, determined and confident young women and men,” said Shonda Rhimes.

The weekend celebration also includes Marathon With The Masters; free community dance classes for all ages and levels on Sunday, April 10. Professional level classes will be taught by leading dance masters including Debbie Allen, Dexter Carr (Nike, Tinashe, Broadway’s Bring It On: The Musical and In The Heights), ballet master Rasta Thomas (Bad boys of the dance), Garth Fagan Principal dancer PJ Pennewell, award-winning celebrity choreographer Jaquel Knight (Beyoncé), founder of Syncopated Ladies Chloe Arnold (Apple TV’s Spirited, The Late Late Show with James Cordon) and more to come. Please visit www.debbieallendanceacademy.com for the full course schedule.

The new Rhimes Performing Arts Center is a two-story, 24,000 square foot complex that includes five dance studios including one equipped for aerial training, a 200-seat performance space and classrooms designed by the global dance company. architecture, design and planning Gensler. With the opening of the PRPP, DADA is poised to become the premier African-American cultural center west of the Mississippi.

For more information about the event or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities, call (310) 280-9145.