Mayte Garcia

Mayte García – Life, Career & Memorable Quotes

Learn about Mayte García — American dancer, singer, author, and performer. Explore her early years, rise with Prince, later career, challenges, personal growth, and the wisdom she’s shared in her own words.

Introduction

Mayte Jannell García (born November 12, 1973) is an American dancer, actress, singer, author, and choreographer. The Most Beautiful: My Life with Prince.

Her life is a blend of artistic ambition, personal sacrifice, public scrutiny, and reinvention — a story of finding her own voice beyond being “Prince’s dancer.”

Early Life and Family

Mayte García was born November 12, 1973, at Fort Rucker, Alabama, a U.S. military base. Puerto Rican descent.

Because of her father’s military service, the family moved frequently between the U.S. and Europe (particularly Germany). San Juan, Puerto Rico.

From a very early age, she was exposed to dance: by age three, she was learning belly dance, inspired by her mother’s art. That’s Incredible! as the then-world’s youngest professional belly dancer.

During her adolescence, she also engaged in classical ballet: she became a prima ballerina with the Wiesbaden Ballet in Germany.

Career and Achievements

Entry into Prince’s World & Early Breakthrough

Mayte García’s path to greater fame began when her mother submitted a video of her dancing to performers associated with Prince.

By 1992, she was dancing on Prince’s Diamonds and Pearls tour with his backing group, The New Power Generation (NPG).

One of her own musical projects, Child of the Sun (1995), was produced under Prince’s label NPG Records.

In 1997, she became the artistic director of the NPG Dance Company, organizing a 90-minute performance tour under the title Around the World in a Day. “The One.”

Additionally, García has choreographed for other artists: she handled the belly dance segments for Britney Spears’s “I’m a Slave 4 U” video and performances.

Beyond dance and music, she has ventured into acting—appearing in TV shows such as CSI: NY, Army Wives, Las Vegas, Psych, and others.

Personal Life, Challenges & Later Years

Marriage to Prince and Loss

In 1996, Mayte married Prince on Valentine’s Day. Pfeiffer syndrome (a rare genetic disorder) and died a week later.

The couple eventually divorced (their marriage was declared null) in 2000.

Health & Resilience

In 2010, Mayte García was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system.

She also adopted a daughter (born 2011) in 2012.

Legacy & Influence

Mayte García is more than “Prince’s dancer.” Her legacy includes:

• Artistic collaboration and boundary crossing: She has blended dance, music, direction, and choreography in high-profile productions, often in service of expressive storytelling.

• Resilience as a public figure: Her willingness to share her pain, growth, and transformation has encouraged conversations about love, loss, trauma, and healing.

• Empowerment through voice: Through her memoir and public statements, she asserts her own perspective rather than being defined solely by her relationship with a megastar.

• Mentorship and creativity: Her teaching, choreographic work, and artistic direction influence new generations exploring movement, gender, identity, and performance.

Memorable Quotes by Mayte García

Here are some notable quotes attributed to her:

• “Patience pays off.”

• “People say that forgiving is my flaw, but I really believe that holding grudges and anger is a waste of energy.”

• “When I got married, the idea of starting my own family was at the top of my list.”

• “I wasn’t a crazy kid. I never went out, never went to football games. I was a trained ballerina.”

• “People would tell me, especially after my marriage to Prince, ‘You need to write a book because you've had a crazy life.’”

• “Find something you’re passionate about, and focus on it.”

• “Sleep is over-rated. When you're creating, travelling, and having the best time of your life the last thing on your mind is sleep.”

These statements reflect her mindset about focus, forgiveness, self-identity, and creative drive.

Lessons from Mayte García

From her life and journey, we can distill several meaningful lessons:

1. Define yourself, not by others
   Mayte’s life shows the importance of stepping out from someone’s shadow and claiming your voice.

2. Persistence, even amidst pain
   She demonstrates that creative work and personal growth can continue alongside hardship (loss, illness, public scrutiny).

3. Healing is part of artistry
   Her openness about trauma, grief, and resilience links her story to art that is honest, human, and restorative.

4. Passion must be paired with discipline
   From early training in dance to managing a life in the public eye, she embodies the intersection of passion and rigorous commitment.

5. Forgiveness and energy
   Her quote about forgiveness suggests that letting go of negative emotions empowers one to keep moving forward.

6. Focus is a compass
   Her emphasis on finding what you love and focusing on it is a guide for anyone trying to sustain a creative life.