The sudden death of music icon Prince on Thursday led to a worldwide outpouring of grief and commemoration. Fans everywhere came together to both mourn the death and celebrate the life and legacy of one of music’s most talented, mesmerizing and incandescent stars.
See a video of the crowd dancing to Purple Rain here:
Suzanne Hevner, organizer of Prince Pop Up party
In South Orange and Maplewood, fans gathered at Floods Hill Saturday evening for an impromptu dance party. It began with a call put on SOMA Swap Lounge by South Orange resident Suzanne Hevner. On first hearing the news, Hevner felt despondent.
“[My] friends are posting from Spike Lee’s party in Ft. Greene and I’m jealous because I’m all alone in my house, wanting to feel connected to those who were grieving as well,” said Hevner.
Within two hours of her post, South Orange Village President Sheena Collum and the Rec. Dept.’s Peter Travers had cleared the field and gotten maintenance to turn on electricity for a speaker. Hevner’s neighbor Erik Van De Pol offered his DJ set-up. “Little did I know he had over 200 Prince songs.”
Prince Pop-Up Dance party
“Then people just starting showing up. Some were walking by and joined us,” said Hevner. “Lots of families came, kids in tow, some sat on blankets just listening, others dancing, eating, flying kites – it was a gorgeous day. I’d guess there were perhaps a little over 100.”
credit Jessie Wendt
One woman who used to work for a company that worked with Prince and had met him many times had “only wonderful things to say,” Hevner said. “Lots of people told me stories of seeing him multiple times through the years. People got choked up when we played Purple Rain at the end. Someone started holding hands and this huge circle got formed for the remainder of the song – I guess it was a symbol of neighbors coming together, for the respect of a genius, for the love of the music, the memories.”
The crowd got up and dancing for Prince’s many hits, including Let’s Go Crazy, Little Red Corvette and more. People danced with people they didn’t know, or had just met, Hevner said. “What was remarkable to me was the spontaneity of it all, bringing strangers together.”
Hevner said there are few musicians left who can compare to Prince, who are multitalented and have had such longevity. “Prince was a part of my musical life from college on. Fantastically funky, sexy and electric; a part of the cannon of funk.”
“I had a few blissful moments Saturday of pure joy, connecting with strangers over something greater.” Hevner said. Judging from the crowd, she was most definitely not alone.
Missed Saturday’s event? Never fear, there will be another opportunity to dance your pants off to Prince’s music: The Maplewood Artist Collective is hosting a dance party and Prince tribute at The Woodland on May 14, which will benefit the Columbia High School Parnassians Society’s trip to Edinburgh. Get your tickets now.
