Editing Paula Abdul (section)

==Early life==
Abdul was born in [[San Fernando, California]]. She is Jewish:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paula Abdul |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/paula-abdul |access-date=2023-03-22 |website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}}</ref> her father, Harry Abdul, is of [[Syrian Jewish]] heritage and was born in [[Aleppo]], [[Syria]], raised in Brazil and emigrated to the United States.<ref name="Eichner">{{cite news|author=Itamar Eichner|title=i minister, American Idol|publisher=YNetNews.com|date=November 17, 2006|url=http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html|access-date=November 17, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061119140912/http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html|archive-date=November 19, 2006|url-status=live}}</ref> Her mother, Lorraine (Rykiss), was a concert pianist of Jewish heritage, from [[Minnedosa, Manitoba]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Eichner |first1=Itamar |title=Israeli minister, American Idol |url=https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3328923,00.html |newspaper=Ynetnews|date=November 17, 2006 }}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|last=Runtagh|first=Jordan|title=Paula Abdul Was 'By Her Mom's Side' as Mother Lorraine Died at Age 85|url=https://people.com/music/paula-abdul-mother-lorraine-dead/|date=January 18, 2018|access-date=January 24, 2022|magazine=People}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.brandonsun.com/local/2018/01/19/death-of-paula-abduls-mother-brings-minnedosa-attention | title=Jan 2018: Death of Paula Abdul's mother brings Minnedosa attention | date=January 19, 2018 }}</ref> Abdul has an older sister named Wendy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/paula-abdul-and-her-sister-wendy-abdul-attend-paula-abdul-news-photo/170996891|title=Paula Abdul Celebrates Her Birthday At Aventine Hollywood|date=June 21, 2013 |publisher=[[Getty Images]]|access-date=30 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414061334/http://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/paula-abdul-and-her-sister-wendy-abdul-attend-paula-abdul-news-photo/170996891|archive-date=14 April 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> As an avid dancer, Abdul was inspired towards a show business career by [[Gene Kelly]] in the film ''[[Singin' in the Rain]]''.<ref name="Rollingstone">{{cite web|last1=Parker|first1=Lyndsey|title=Paula Abdul's Favorite Choreography Moments of Her Career|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paula-abduls-favorite-choreography-moments-of-her-career-20140718|website=rollingstone.com|date=July 18, 2014|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019221423/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paula-abduls-favorite-choreography-moments-of-her-career-20140718|archive-date=19 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Abdul began taking dance lessons at an early age in [[ballet]], [[Jazz dance|jazz]], and [[Tap dance|tap]]. She attended [[Van Nuys High School]], where she was a cheerleader and an honor student.<ref name="WSJ" /> At 15, she received a scholarship to a dance camp near [[Palm Springs, California|Palm Springs]], and in 1978, appeared in a low-budget independent musical film, ''[[Junior High School (film)|Junior High School]]''. In 1980, she graduated from Van Nuys High School.<ref name="WSJ">{{cite news|title=Paula Abdul on Her Secret Childhood Dance Studio|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/paula-abdul-on-her-secret-childhood-dance-studio-1479829799|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=November 22, 2016|access-date=19 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703122351/https://www.wsj.com/articles/paula-abdul-on-her-secret-childhood-dance-studio-1479829799|archive-date=3 July 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> Abdul studied [[broadcasting]] at the [[California State University, Northridge]]. During her freshman year, she was selected from a pool of 700 candidates for the [[cheerleading]] squad of the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] NBA basketball team—the famed [[Laker Girls]]. Within a year, she became head [[Choreography|choreographer]].<ref name="LAT19911222">{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-22-sp-1552-story.html| title=The Greatest Flattery: Success of the Knicks' New Dancers Simply Proves What the Lakers Have Known All Along| last=Cart| first=Julie| date=December 22, 1991| work=[[Los Angeles Times]]| access-date=January 17, 2013| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024060720/http://articles.latimes.com/1991-12-22/sports/sp-1552_1_laker-girl-style| archive-date=October 24, 2013| url-status=live}}</ref> She remained with the Laker Girls until 1986.<ref name="LakerGirls">{{cite web|author=Dennis Hunt|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-02-12-ca-2808-story.html|title=Ex-Laker Girl Slam-Dunks : Paula Abdul scores with new singing career and debut album|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 12, 1989|accessdate=April 18, 2022}}</ref>