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Wednesday, Mar. 19, 2025

Was Prince a trained ballet dancer?

Deanna Pistono, MinnPost
yes

Prince, perhaps the most famous artist to have been born and raised in Minneapolis, was trained in ballet through the city’s Urban Arts program. The program connected him with the Minnesota Dance Theatre (MDT), where he took dance classes. 

After his success as a musician and songwriter, Prince continued to support the MDT. In 1983, he headlined a benefit performance for the group, which included the first live performance of “Purple Rain.” At the same benefit, MDT dancers, choreographed by MDT founder Loyce Houlton, danced to Prince’s “D.S.M.R.”

Prince also supported the Joffrey Ballet after seeing members of the company perform in Los Angeles in 1991. Fourteen of his songs — including an extended orchestral version of “Thunder” written by Prince for the Joffrey — later accompanied the company’s 1993 rock ballet, “Billboards.”

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