A Legacy in Motion: How One Woman Built a Home for Generations of Dancers
- Rebecca Gilbuena
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
Tucked in the heart of Brooklyn Park sits The Art of Dance, a Black-owned studio founded and operated by Linda Green. For more than two decades, the studio has transformed the lives of hundreds of young dancers, many of whom have grown up within its walls, from toddlers to adults taking center stage.
It started as a dream and a few borrowed hours in a high school dance studio and has since blossomed into a character-building community space, one that’s launched careers, built confidence, and kept generations of young dancers on their feet, quite literally.
Behind the sparkle of the stage lights and carefully choreographed routines lies the dedication of a single woman who for nearly a quarter-century has been teacher, choreographer, janitor, costume designer, and soul of the studio.
Linda opened the doors to The Art of Dance in 2002 with just 15 students, mostly the children of close friends. That first year, she entered her group into a competition, telling herself, “If we win, this is my calling." They didn’t just win – they swept top honors. From there, her student base grew exponentially, peaking at nearly 180 dancers per season before the pandemic.
Debbie Allen’s influence and Prince’s gift
A lifelong dancer, Linda took inspiration from her creative idol, Debbie Allen. “I’ve always known I wanted to be a dancer,” she said. “But when I saw Debbie Allen choreograph for the Academy Awards and star in FAME, I knew I wanted my own school.”
In 2004, Linda graduated from the high school practice room into a large space in the Minneapolis Warehouse District. It was going to take a lot of work, vision and money to turn it into a studio. Seeking community support, Linda sent promotional materials to Prince, someone she grew up in the same neighborhood with.
With a little insider advice from Prince’s drummer, the materials landed on the desk of his assistant, Judy. Soon after, Prince’s charity, Love 4 One Another visited The Art of Dance and offered a game-changing gift: $10,0000 to build out a professional dance studio.
“Once that was built out, it was through the roof,” said Linda. “Prince had some of his people attend the recital that year, and we’ve been connected ever since.”
In January 2016, months before his death, Prince’s people invited The Art of Dance to perform at an impromptu listening party at Paisley Park. Caught off guard by the last minute request, Linda declined, saying the dancers weren’t prepared. In response, she got a call from Prince himself who told Linda, “You should always be ready.”
Ever since then, the Art of Dance has made sure they’re ready for any stage, at any moment. In fact, they now perform regularly at Paisley Park memorials and are a beloved fixture at the Minnesota State Fair, thanks to connections made through Prince and his creative team.
A space to grow
Offering instruction in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, afro-modern, and more, the studio embraces cultural diversity not just in style, but in its student body. “The Art of Dance is not just for Black students,” Linda explains. “We welcome everyone. That’s what I mean by the ‘art’ of dance – it’s about people from all walks of life coming together.”
Operating on a shoestring budget, Linda is the very definition of a one-woman show. On any given Saturday, she’s teaching back-to-back classes for dancers ranging from three years old to adulthood, managing costume logistics, preparing recital backdrops, and fielding questions from parents about competitions.
She runs every aspect of the studio herself, from setting up lighting for recitals to scrubbing toilets. “I’m the janitor too,” she says with a laugh. But keeping the studio running, especially during the summer when enrollment drops, is a financial challenge.
This year marks the 23rd annual recital for The Art of Dance, and as always, Linda is dreaming big. Elaborate costumes, theatrical backdrops, and powerful storytelling are just part of her artistic vision.
None of it comes cheap. The studio is now asking for help from the community through a GoFundMe campaign, not just to fund the recital, but to ensure the studio survives the difficult summer months.
“I always say if we can get through summer, we'll be just fine,” Linda said. “I've gone many, many years without any income because I love it so much. But right now, I'm reaching out to the community to say, ‘Hey, please help us.’”
With the community’s help, like the kind Prince offered 20 years ago, The Art of Dance can keep inspiring young people for another 24 years, and beyond.
“I've had students who started here shy and unsure, and they’re dancing with Beyoncé and Cardi B,” she shares proudly. “But more importantly, they come back. They teach master classes. They give back what they’ve learned. That’s the full-circle moment that makes all of this worth it.”
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