Choreographer for Michael Jackson, Madonna to Speak on Campus

Vincent Paterson '72 to speak at ATS March 31

March 17, 2010

Vincent Paterson '72 working with Michael Jackson on a video in the 1980s. Photo by Sam Emerson.

Vincent Paterson, world-renowned director and choreographer, will return to his alma mater Dickinson College to talk about his career in the entertainment business Wednesday, March 31, at 7 p.m., in the Anita Tuvin Schlechter (ATS) Auditorium on West Louther Street  between College and Cherry streets. The event, titled “The Man Behind the Thrones,” is free and open to the public. 

Paterson, who graduated from Dickinson in 1972, has had an expansive career in almost every part of the entertainment industry, including film, theater, Broadway, concert tours, opera, music videos, television and commercials. Paterson created many projects for Madonna and Michael Jackson. He directed and choreographed Madonna’s “Blond Ambition”tour and her Marie Antoinette/Vogue performance for MTV. For Jackson, who died last summer, Paterson directed and choreographed the “Bad” tour and choreographed “Smooth Criminal” and many other Jackson music videos and live performances. 

Paterson directed and choreographed the musical sequences in Lars Von Trier’s film “Dancer in the Dark,” which was awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. He has choreographed several films, including “The Birdcage,” “Closer” and “Evita.” He directed the television film “In Search of Dr. Seuss,” which received seven Emmy Award nominations. Paterson has also choreographed more than 250 commercials, including campaigns for Pepsi, GE, Rubbermaid and Nike. Paterson is featured in the best-selling Smithsonian publication, “Masters of the Movement: Portraits of America’s Greatest Choreographers.” 

Paterson is returning to the college as a Metzger-Conway fellow. The Metzger-Conway program, established in 1982, brings distinguished graduates back to Dickinson for short residencies. 

The program is sponsored by The Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues. For more information, visit Clarke Forum or call 717-245-1875.