Michael Peters was a renowned choreographer who revolutionized the field of music video choreography in the 1980s. He worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, such as Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Pat Benatar, and Diana Ross. He also won a Tony Award for his work on the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. However, his life was cut short by AIDS-related complications in 1994. In this article, we will explore the life, career, and death of Michael Peters, and how he left a lasting impact on the world of dance.
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Early Life and Education
Michael Peters was born on August 6, 1948, in Brooklyn, New York, to an African American father and a Jewish mother. His mother enrolled him in his first dance class at the age of four, as he loved to dance around the house. He was inspired by Broadway musicals such as My Fair Lady and West Side Story, and decided to pursue a career in the performing arts. He attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, but dropped out before graduating. He continued to dance at the Bernice Johnson Cultural Arts Center in Queens, where he learned from modern dance choreographers such as Talley Beatty, Alvin Ailey, Bernice Johnson, and Fred Benjamin.
Broadway and Music Video Breakthrough
Michael Peters began his professional career as a featured dancer in several Broadway shows, such as The Wiz, Raisin, Purlie, Billie, and Me and Bessie. He had his first big breakthrough as a choreographer when he created the dance moves for Donna Summer’s Love to Love You Baby in 1975. He then went on to set the stage for commercial dance when he choreographed for music videos, such as Lionel Richie’s Hello, Pat Benatar’s Love is a Battlefield, and Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Beat It. He was among the first choreographers to establish a name as a music video choreographer, and was referred to as the “Balanchine of MTV” by the New York Times. He also appeared as a dancer in some of the videos he choreographed, such as the rival gang leader in Beat It, the dance teacher in Hello, and a cameo in Love is a Battlefield.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Peters received many accolades for his work as a choreographer. In 1982, he shared a Tony Award with Michael Bennett for Best Choreography for their work on the Broadway musical Dreamgirls. He also won two Emmy Awards for his choreography for the television specials Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever and The Jacksons: An American Dream. He was nominated for three MTV Video Music Awards for his work on Thriller, Beat It, and Love is a Battlefield, and won one for Thriller. He was also inducted into the Dance Hall of Fame in 1995, posthumously.
Death and Legacy
Michael Peters died of AIDS-related complications on August 29, 1994, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 46. He had been diagnosed with HIV in 1987, and kept his condition private until shortly before his death. He was survived by his wife, Janet, and his son, Joshua. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills.
Michael Peters left a lasting legacy on the world of dance, especially music video choreography. He influenced many other choreographers and dancers, such as Paula Abdul, Fatima Robinson, Wade Robson, and Laurieann Gibson. He also inspired many artists and performers, such as Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake, Usher, and Bruno Mars. His work on Thriller and Beat It is considered to be iconic and groundbreaking, and has been replicated and parodied by many others. His choreography is also taught in many dance schools and workshops around the world.
Michael Peters was a visionary choreographer who changed the face of dance in the 1980s. He was a pioneer of music video choreography, and a master of blending different styles and genres of dance. He was a talented dancer, a creative director, and a passionate artist. He was a legend who left a mark on the history of dance.
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