Mods, feel free to move this thread if it is not in the right forum. I apologize in advance!

While I was taking class at the Joffrey Ballet summer intensive in New York, the faculty brought in Misty Copeland for a Q&A. Being the avid Prince fan I am, when it came time for questions, I raised my hand and asked her about her time working with Prince. She smiled and laughed a little, and mentioned that not a lot of dancers ask her about when she worked with Prince.

Her story started when Prince called her on the phone in 2008. She told us she had no idea who Prince was, only having heard of him here and there. She really didn't think it was a big deal when he told her that she was flying to Paisley Park in two days to be in his music video. (Crimson & Clover). When Misty arrived at Paisley to shoot the video, Prince wasn't there. He showed up 2 hours later with open arms and told her how talented she was. When it came time to shoot the video, Prince told her to just dance around to the music, and that there wasn't any specific choreography to be taught. She found this to be very bizzare, as a proffessional dancer with ABT, she rarely performed without every movement being choreographed and set.

Next she told us about working with Prince in Rome. She said she got a call a year after her work in Crimson and Colver, and this Prince said he wanted her to dance onstage during his concert. She agreed and went to Rome. Again, nothing was choreographed, Misty was instructed to improv to the music. Misty told us about one concert in Rome, when she was dancing to the music before Prince came out. She did a dèveloppé, where her leg extends all the way up past her head. She said the crowd went wild, thinking it was because of what she had done. Then she looked behind her, and saw the crowd went crazy only because Prince had come onstage.

Finally she told us about the W2A shows. A year had past and she got another call from Prince. This time, he said he was doing a special tour, with shows at MSG, and he wanted it centered around her. Again she agreed, and this time he had choreographed numbers for her. She said it was such a great experience to perform at a concert. That it was quite different performing in arena filled with screaming fans, as opposed to the Met, or Lincoln Center.

On another note, I highly doubt they were dating. The relationship Misty described with Prince, to me, seemed very proffessional.

Anyways, I'm glad I got to share this story. I can't tell you the countless dance teachers and choreographers I've talked with who have met or worked with Prince, and the stories I've got to hear are just awesome!

Thanks cool

GREAT to hear a somewhat nice story about Prince for a change. In that case, more stories please!

thanks for sharing, you've got a really cool story. i loved misty's involvement for that era, she added loads of class, the dancing so beautiful, her ability incredible. i liked the little routine she got going, so romantic yet fun & very flirty. then the photos that appeared with prince's face practically in her bits & pieces were hilarious but mainly very sexy impressive stuff.

the artistic process is interesting to hear.. & i always said there was nothing between them! there's a photo where they are out somewhere. she's holding his hand, but looks like she really doesn't want to be.

anyway, good luck with the ballet lessons! who knows, when misty is too old prince could be asking you to join the npg!

i have a ballet story. my daughter was having lessons, she was about 4. i took her brother who was about 7 along to an important performance & he sat blowing raspberries during the demi plies. it didn't end well

excited said:

thanks for sharing, you've got a really cool story. i loved misty's involvement for that era, she added loads of class, the dancing so beautiful, her ability incredible. i liked the little routine she got going, so romantic yet fun & very flirty. then the photos that appeared with prince's face practically in her bits & pieces were hilarious but mainly very sexy impressive stuff.

the artistic process is interesting to hear.. & i always said there was nothing between them! there's a photo where they are out somewhere. she's holding his hand, but looks like she really doesn't want to be.

anyway, good luck with the ballet lessons! who knows, when misty is too old prince could be asking you to join the npg!

i have a ballet story. my daughter was having lessons, she was about 4. i took her brother who was about 7 along to an important performance & he sat blowing raspberries during the demi plies. it didn't end well

How does one blow raspberries? Or is that an English saying for farting?

Thanks for sharing.

TheKid94 said:

Mods, feel free to move this thread if it is not in the right forum. I apologize in advance!

While I was taking class at the Joffrey Ballet summer intensive in New York, the faculty brought in Misty Copeland for a Q&A. Being the avid Prince fan I am, when it came time for questions, I raised my hand and asked her about her time working with Prince. She smiled and laughed a little, and mentioned that not a lot of dancers ask her about when she worked with Prince.

Her story started when Prince called her on the phone in 2008. She told us she had no idea who Prince was, only having heard of him here and there. She really didn't think it was a big deal when he told her that she was flying to Paisley Park in two days to be in his music video. (Crimson & Clover). When Misty arrived at Paisley to shoot the video, Prince wasn't there. He showed up 2 hours later with open arms and told her how talented she was. When it came time to shoot the video, Prince told her to just dance around to the music, and that there wasn't any specific choreography to be taught. She found this to be very bizzare, as a proffessional dancer with ABT, she rarely performed without every movement being choreographed and set.

Next she told us about working with Prince in Rome. She said she got a call a year after her work in Crimson and Colver, and this Prince said he wanted her to dance onstage during his concert. She agreed and went to Rome. Again, nothing was choreographed, Misty was instructed to improv to the music. Misty told us about one concert in Rome, when she was dancing to the music before Prince came out. She did a dèveloppé, where her leg extends all the way up past her head. She said the crowd went wild, thinking it was because of what she had done. Then she looked behind her, and saw the crowd went crazy only because Prince had come onstage.

Finally she told us about the W2A shows. A year had past and she got another call from Prince. This time, he said he was doing a special tour, with shows at MSG, and he wanted it centered around her. Again she agreed, and this time he had choreographed numbers for her. She said it was such a great experience to perform at a concert. That it was quite different performing in arena filled with screaming fans, as opposed to the Met, or Lincoln Center.

On another note, I highly doubt they were dating. The relationship Misty described with Prince, to me, seemed very proffessional.

Anyways, I'm glad I got to share this story. I can't tell you the countless dance teachers and choreographers I've talked with who have met or worked with Prince, and the stories I've got to hear are just awesome!

Thanks 4 sharing! Ur other stories r much welcome too

One of my dance instructors at The Joffrey Ballet School was in Billboards and went to Paisley Park and danced with him, along with the company. Another one of my teachers auditioned to dance with Mayte's dance company. I never knew she actually had one! Prince talked to all the dancers and thanked them for coming and auditioning. Also this past year we brought in a choreographer from L.A. and her husband, a music producer, also helps set up stereo equipment and sound for concerts. He just so happened to be doing one of Princes concerts. She met him. Then somehow she asked one his band members, (she didn't say who), if she could have one the moon earrings that he wears. The answer was originally no, then 2months later she got one of the earrings in the mail! She wore it all the time during rehearsal. I also met a choreographer at a dance convention that danced in the Betcha By Golly Wow music video.

TheKid94 said:

On another note, I highly doubt they were dating. The relationship Misty described with Prince, to me, seemed very proffessional.

Yep.