West Side Story

[cmcorrie]

I love this version. I remember watching it as a 10 year old. It's been the benchmark ever since.

[iamclery]

Debbie is MAGIC in this.

[sophieisthewalrus]

i do like the movie version of this more, but debbie's dancing in phenomenal!

[TheLadylovesick]

she fit Anita so well

[nayembi]

Wow! She killed it! Her dancing is phenomenal! Singing and dancing at the same time is not easy.

[Josquinquin]

Debbie Allen's performance almost puts Chita AND Rita's versions on notice. .. her energized dancing and flawless adherence to the choreography is astounding!!

[mssassysinger97]

love debbie allen!! :) shes my inspiration!!

[sophiaessig]

@ommyburgos @sarmadasco Both of you are both worng and right... While yes Priscilla Lopez originated the role on Broadway, in the movie she is played by Yamil Borges who in fact is Rosalina (the girl singing about how she wants to go back to Puerto Rico) in this cast. So yes, the movie version of Morales is in this video, but that's not Maria

[39drewfoster39]

Is this video sped up?



[MaggieLovesJimmy]

@39drewfoster39 lol Nope, that's how they actually do it... Gotta love the energy on this number! :D

[tommyburgos]

The girl who plays Maria was Morales in the movie version of "A Chorus Line"!

[sarmadasco]

@tommyburgos Priscilla Lopez, the Morales from 'Chorus Line' was not in this or any revival on Broadway of 'West Side Story', she was, although, in 1980, starring in a hit show called 'A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine'...also a musical, where Lopez went from ensemble in ACL into her 1st starring role. The woman who did play Maria in this version/revival, was named Jossie de Guzman. Allen, though not the 'star' was, in fact, the "STAR" of this revival. Very athletic Anita! Peace!

[Eseercam]

My favorite musical of all times! WEST SIDE STORY!!! My 2nd favorite: 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, followed by "GUYS & DOLLS"!!!

As far as Debbie Allens "VOICE" goes...TO: NHEMPCovers---This particular musical wanted the CHARACTER to sound just as Miss Allen did! If you attended broadway productions & saw the film... you will see that the "character" (Anita) sounds as such! Besides, everybody knows that Debbie Allen can "SING"!!! Go visit some of her footage on YOUTUBE...You'll see that she has

[NHEMPCovers]

She's an amazing dancer, but I'm not quite sure about the voice

[tamiatami]

Debbie Allen is the best.

[bigblatino]

Okay, Debbie Allen is kicking ass.

[juliax1993]

I love the choreography.

[SheBeis]

haha Debbie Allen was so animated

[LadyNightthorn]

America is my favorite number in WSS. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know my cuz was in it, but this was a few years before I met Debbie. She's a sweetheart, and always a joy to watch.

[SuperLaw11]

She is the best dancer! Debbie is amazing! Better than the current dancers in the show...

[whacky14flo]

I love the way she says "Island" xD

[2real4ukid]

OMG i just love debbie allen. she is so inspiring she can dance sing and act! she is my true inspiration! she looks so fabulous! i watch this over and over because she just amazes me! :)

[MrKvarghese]

2:18!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so embarASSing

[imsotarable]

@MrKvarghese that was on purpose lol

[MultiRainbowdrops]

@MrKvarghese  what happened? :)

[iSeaSweeneyTodd]

@MrKvarghese What happened?

[Jarrod005]

These girls are on hypserspeed lol.

[Leadingdude]

Debbie OWNS this dance.

[greenemerald152]

debbie was fantastic, i love how the girl at 1:06 is sooo obviously black and looks nothing latino haha this is awesomet tho

[mademoiselle3000]

greenemerald152, you've never seen a black Latino?

[onllwyn]

@greenemerald152 wow! did you really write that?

[kikadiva]

@greenemerald152  WOW IT IS OBVIOUS THAT YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO PUERTO RICO!.....LMFAO YOU CAN SEE RICANS IN ALL COLORS FROM JET BLACK TO THE WHITEST WHITE!

[berlande101]

@greenemerald152 umm first of all..who cares...second of all..there r plenty of black hispanics...dominicans, costa ricans...brazilians...skin really has nothing to do with nationality anymore

[NHEMPCovers]

@greenemerald152 well there are black latinos! hahaha I'd say she looks more cuban, but I guess Puerto-Rico have black latinos too. There's actually a huge comunity, in the latino comunity, of black people.

[boombox890]

No offense to ANYONE who likes this but Karen Olivo is A HUNDRED TIMES BETTER. This woman is a fantastic dancer but her acting is WAY too overdone and she's kinda strange...especially in the beginning. I think Karen Olivo is so much more natural. And dont get me started on Chita or Rita. AMAZINGGGG. Idk this girl just doesnt tickle me pink it may be just personal taste.

[imsotarable]

@boombox890 umm "this girl" is debbie allen!!!! there would be no karen olivo without the debbie allens of the world...... jmo

[keiliana]

Thank you for posting! Loved it! Debbie Allen shines in her day just as Rita Morena and now Karen Olivo is shining their day! We should appreciate ALL interpretations of a great musical!

[stand4truth07]

love debbie but nobody is better than rita moreno as anita

[porterhouse1974]

Debbie was the best in her dance days......

[smsgirl13]

0:34 wat the heck

[tygerprince]

This woman never ages....she is so hot!!!

I love Debbie Allen....

[BananasFan1]

I dont care what u all say but this is horrible. Karen Olivo is soooo much better and u must be weird (no offense) to think this is good.

[camplazlo22]

not really...this is the original afterall and its a classic

[theandygram]

This is NOT the original WSS. The original opened at the Wintergarden in 1957 and starred Chita Rivera, Larry Kert and Carol Lawrence. This was a revival in 1980.

[snowwhiteluv28]

No. Never. This is classic. Karen Olivo did a good job with it, but she's not even close to Debbie Allen's stage presence and character. Besides, she showed NO signs of being Puerto Rican, which is the whole point of the number, Not to mention the fact that Debbie Allen is a far superior dancer, You clearly haven't been exposed to true talent. And that's not your fault. But it's a pity that you can't appreciate good theater when you see it.

[wshutes]

Yes, she's a worse dancer who had to have the choreography dumbed down for her. Makes her so much better...

[DimonBroadway09]

this was really good! Debbie Allen was amazing but she kinda annoying as Anita same as the chik that plays Rosalia. but anyways Debbie is a fantastic dancer in this though.

[leobabe27]

perfection!

[danzboy1]

DEBBIE ALLEN!!!! WOW!!!!

[neraclope]

I wish I could see the whole thing. Go ladies! This was exceptional!!

[Mamasan41]

Chita and Rita Forever!!!

[cutieluver122193]

WOW that was something

it was pretty amazing i have to say that much

[byakuganmaggot]

yo this chick in the puple looks demonics ella es demonica

[jbactr]

Leonard Bernstein himself was not too thrilled with this revival.

[Joserm182]

Best America EVER!

[peerah]

Still, one of the greatest musicals of all time......

[misslovelyrachel]

i was velma in CCT's production of west side story. it was amazing, and one of the most incredible productions of my life.

[cbgbs93]

we're doing west side story at my high school. i'm doc!

[Sammys0sa]

Get it Debbie who knew my old teacher could move like this

[Adelaidey]

Why is one of the girls [besides Rosalia] not dancing at all? Seems like a weird choice to make.

[moonsun411]

Seriously AMAAAAAZING. I love this!

[takara2]

I love this song

they are good =)

[princessrockz]

This is my favorite version of America!!! It's AMAZING!!!!

[jennakantor]

Wow. I love this. Go girls

[spunkybelle1127]

ughhhhh anita..... not so much.

[cutemamma73]

Ughhhhh spunkybelle1127..... debbie allen not really spanih so she exaggerated,duuuh!!!

[cassyflammini]

umm ya she was amazing at this part and her dancing was beautiful plus the part is really exaggeratedd if you ever watch west side story

[tkelly03]

I'm sure she is doing exactly what is expected of her fdor being nominated for a Tony in this role.

[princessrockz]

I'm gonna dance this part real soon. I want to see the whole movie! It's a great and funny number! =)

[musicaltheatergeek79]

This version is not in the movie.

[Igbogadi]

It was in the movie. But it was the men against the women in the song.

[IamKesyerSoze]

Yeah, they changed a lot for the movie. But I still love both, even if I prefer the movie's girls vs. boys aspect more. ;)

[clevm002]

Where are all the comments ?