NEWSMAKERS

NEWSMAKERS

Moves like Jagger: Mick’s partner debuts Stones-themed dance

NEW YORK

Talk about your “Moves Like Jagger.” The recovering rocker made a stealth appearance at the ballet, slipping backstage to support his partner, Melanie Hamrick, as she presented her new dance based on Rolling Stones songs.

It was Hamrick’s first work as choreographer, with a score arranged by Jagger of three Stones classics: “Sympathy for the Devil,” “She’s a Rainbow” and “Paint it Black.” Hamrick created the short ballet for the 20th anniversary of Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest ballet scholarship competition, in which she performed as a teenager.

Jagger didn’t appear onstage or in the audience. But he did greet the crowd at New York’s Lincoln Center on Thursday night via a backstage mic.

“Hi, everybody. This is Mick Jagger here,” he said, congratulating YAGP on its anniversary and adding: “I hope you are going to enjoy this wonderful ballet – and the music, of course.”

The 75-year-old rocker recently underwent medical treatment, reportedly for a heart valve issue, forcing postponement of the Stones’ No Filter tour.

Hamrick said later in an interview that Jagger was “doing great. Thank goodness!”

Hamrick, who dances with American Ballet Theater but did not perform in the piece herself, said it had been nerve-wracking presenting her first choreographic effort.

Associated Press