Patrick Moore - Dreams Do Come True

Patrick Moore poses with the cast of "Annie" at Lucy Craft Laney in Minneapolis. 

Lundstrum Performing Arts instructor Patrick Moore never expected to be a professional dancer, choreographer and teacher—until his mother agreed to let him be a part of an after-school musical. Today, Patrick has achieved all his dreams thanks to great mentors and hard work. If you find yourself on a similar journey, Patrick has some words of advice for you.

Patrick grew up in East St. Louis, Illinois and had never taken a dance class, until a group from the newly formed Katherine Dunham Center for Performing Arts came to his school to direct students in a performance of  “The Wiz.” These professional artists saw something in young Patrick and pleaded his case with his mother to allow him to be a part of the after school program. Because of his talent, Patrick was offered a full scholarship to the Performing Arts Center. There Patrick discovered a love of dance: a love that he credits with soothing the mind and soul, and helping him move forward with everyday life. He never looked back—out of fifty students who received scholarships, Patrick was only student who completed the rigorous program.

Patrick’s hard work paid off, and he went on to a successful triple-threat performing career with roles in The Wiz, Five Guys Named Moe, Smokey Joe’s Café, Sophisticated Ladies and Black Nativity. In addition, he has choreographed and worked beside many national recording artists and finalists for the television show "So You Think You Can Dance". At Lundstrum Performing Arts, Patrick teaches tap, jazz, and hip hop, and is one of the core teachers for Lundstrum’s school outreach program. Bringing the arts to Minneapolis public schools is important to Patrick. “I was one of those kids. I was one of those kids who had no knowledge of what I wanted to be in life, but I was grabbed by people who understood where I was trying to lead myself.”

Patrick has seen first-hand the power one person has to inspire a young person.

Special Guest Artist Opportunity– Meet Jordan Ward

Patrick has seen first-hand the power one person has to inspire a young person. In St. Louis while teaching at a competition dance school Patrick had the opportunity to meet a young Jordan Ward. Jordan, a skilled dancer who is now on tour with Justin Bieber, and has performed with artists such as Prince, and currently Prince Royce, Becky G, and more.

This February, Jordan Ward will be coming to Lundstrum Performing Arts to teach several Master Classes, all open to the public, and designed for dancers of all ages and abilities. Patrick recalls, “I would see Jordan at the competitions and he was a great dancer. Let me tell you, when they would announce Jordan Ward, everyone from the hallway would run in to see what he was doing. He was excellent.”

If your dream is to become a dancer or performer Patrick advises students, “Keep training; don’t give up, because you can never learn everything.” He also encourages students to consider special opportunities like Jordan Ward’s Master Class at Lundstrum. “If you choose to go this direction in life, Jordan is going to have a lot of information for you, how he got started, how to audition, how to succeed in the business, and what it takes to be in the business.”