Deborah Y. Wilson (Debbie), a native New Yorker, is a performer, choreographer, and dance educator. After majoring in dance at Brooklyn College, she joined Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Certificate Program. From there, she attended Broadway Dance Center and became a Frank Hatchett Dancer and teacher, and eventually got her own class. During her more than 30 years of teaching at BDC, she is one of the only teachers that has taught, Jazz, Commercial Jazz, Heels, Musical Theater, Street Jazz, Jazz Funk, Burlesque Jazz, and TV/Video Jazz.
Recently, Debbie got accepted into the Stage Director and Choreographer’s Foundation Observership Class which led to her being an Apprentice Director/Choreographer to Jerry Mitchell for the Pretty Woman National Tour (101 Productions). Debbie also branched out into acting and can be seen in Apple TV’s “Severance,” where she was hand picked by Director Ben Stiller to be a Featured Scientist. She appeared in the TV show “The Other Two” as a principal dancer choreographed by Kathryn Burns, and as a background and stand-in actor for TV shows and films including “I Am Legend.”
Choreography credits include “Futurology the Musical” (Off Broadway), “Carnival Choreographer’s Ball” (NYC), Rhapsody James’s “Sirens After Dark” (NYC), Assistant Choreographer for Lane Napper (from Victorious), “Freckleface Strawberry The Musical” (Off Broadway & Tour). With her finger on the pulse of what’s new, Debbie also choreographs for up-and-coming recording artists. Her work includes “Put that WoOoOo in it” for Robert Taylor Jr. (from So You Think You Can Dance), and assistant choreographer for recording artist Jahiem.
Performance credits include “Sesame Street Live” and “The Wizard of Oz” national tours, “Porgy & Bess” (Bregenz, Austria), and “The Radio City Christmas Spectacular.” Debbie has assumed the role of Performance Director for “Sesame Street Live” and Production Assistant for “American Prophet – Frederick Douglass…In His Words” at the Apollo Theater, and “Dancin Feet” Video Series featuring Lane Napper.
Debbie’s international teaching gives her a unique perspective on dance and music styles from around the world. She is currently on faculty at Broadway Dance Center and has taught at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Steps on Broadway, Peridance Capezio Center, and Dance Theatre of Harlem