 Debbie Allen commented in interviews that the role of Lydia was  originally bigger in the movie, written as a star dance student  always competing for roles with Irene Caras Coco. So the role would  not outshine Cara and the other young cast members, the role was  then drastically cut down and made into the audition judge that you  see in just the first ten minutes of the film. The character of  Lydia, of course, was carried over to and made the star of the TV  version of _"Fame" (1982)_ (qv).