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Prince Rogers Nelson :: Patron of the (Dance) Arts Dancers recall Prince as ...t slippersThe Twin Cities dance community recalls another side of the artist who first took ballet lessons as a kid.
Prince at a benefit concert for Minnesota Dance Theatre at First Avenue on Aug. 3, 1983, when he premiered (and recorded) much of his music for "Purple Rain," including the title song. <br/> <br/> It was an unwritten rule that everyone danced on Prince’s stage, from the band members to the unparalleled Cat Glover (“Sign o’ the Times”) and Misty Copeland, the first black woman promoted to principal at American Ballet Theatre. Prince’s first wife, Mayte Garcia, was a dynamo who reflected every rhythm in her body. He seemed to appreciate anyone who could get in a groove with him — and keep up. <br/> While growing up, Prince had ballet training through an initiative called the Urban Arts Program. It connected students “who didn’t fit into the traditional academic world” with local arts institutions, explained Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT) artistic director Lise Houlton. Prince took classes with MDT in Dinkytown. Houlton’s mother, company founder Loyce Houlton, became a mentor and close friend.... <br/> <br/> Prep for ‘Purple Rain’ <br/> Prince’s loyalty to Loyce continued as his star rose. He headlined a benefit concert for MDT at First Avenue in 1983 that rang up $23,000 for the company’s coffers. The evening included choreography by Loyce to “D.M.S.R.” while Prince made history with the first live performance of his anthem “Purple Rain.” <br/> During this period Prince used the MDT studios at Hennepin Center for the Arts to rehearse for his film debut. John Command, an actor and choreographer with a résumé stretching from Hollywood to the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, was teaching jazz dance at MDT when Loyce called with a unique offer. <br/> “She told me there’s a rock band that wants to take dance classes,” Command said. “They were willing to pay $150 an hour for four hours a week. They would pay whether they took the class or not, and it would be for six months.” According to Command, members of the Revolution showed up, along with the Time, Denise “Vanity” Matthews and Apollonia Kotero.... <br/> <br/> Saving the Joffrey Ballet <br/> MDT wasn’t the only dance company Prince cared about. During the early 1990s, Joffrey Ballet donor Patricia Kennedy brought him to a performance in Los Angeles. Prince was so inspired he offered to write music for a new piece. He not only wrote an extended version of his song “Thunder” from the album “Diamonds and Pearls” but also permitted use of his music free of charge for five years with no royalty expectations. It helped save the financially foundering company.... Read More
[Edited 6/29/16 6:23am] | |
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FINALLY got my life long question answered! I have always been curious of where he honed his dancing skills from! Love this article!
I've always wondered, too!! So many layers to our beloved Prince...and the more I uncover, especially about his giving nature, the more I love him! | |
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Me too! now if only there were pics of him in ballet shoes and tights! | |
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That might be more than we can handle!!! | |
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