Michael Peters, Dancer/Choreographer

Michael Peters, the son of an African American father and a Jewish mother, was born in NYC in 1948. As a teenager, my ex, Herb, was one of the summer camp counselors back in New York where Michael attended summer camp. Michael would eventually become an Emmy award winning dancer and choreographer, and grew to be very successful throughout the 70's, 80's, and early 90's. He and Herb had each moved out to LA for their own reasons,not related to each other. They would not cross paths again until 1994.
My favorite work of Michael's is his choreography of and dancing in Michael Jackson's "Beat it" and "Thriller" videos. He can be seen dancing in the front in a white suit and sun glasses in "Beat it." In 1994, Herb heard that Michael would be teaching a dance class at the studio in LA where our daughter trained. The three of us went to watch him, and he and Herb were able to say hello again after all those years. We watched as Michael taught the dance class, snapping his fingers and moving quite slowly. It was obvious that he was not well. Herb asked him if our daughter could join the class, and Michael looked at our daughter who was 9 at the time, and in his less than amused voice and with his "diva" look, said "If she can hang." Hang she did, and I wish that I would have taken photos that day. Things had come full circle. That was in August of 1994, and within a few weeks of that encounter, Michael passed away from complications of AIDS. He was 46. The "celebration" of his life took place the following month at that same dance studio. The studio was packed with so many people from Michael's industry. Numerous people told funny stories about how Michael really was a diva, complete with his own little attitude, how he loved wearing his pink tights, and how he did everything on his own terms. Herb was able to get reaquainted with Michael's delicate little mother for a quick moment. She was now in her 80's and had just buried her only child. She was wearing an AIDS ribbon on her dress like so many of us. Although we all drank champayne and danced in an effort to celebrate his life, it was still so very sad. Another one gone too soon. I will never tire of watching Michael Peters dance. RIP.