I just learned of JP's passing and am deeply saddened. I knew Jonathan as a student at UA in Philly where he studied under my partner, Joseph Taylor. When Joseph and I moved to NYC, Jonathan lived with us until he took off on tour w/ Ailey - 1988? Joseph and I convinced JP to have his eye operation back in college - I even remember talking to his mom about it. I lost touch w/ JP after Joseph passed in 1992. I know how much he loved life and how he lived to dance. He will dance with the angels forever.

Jonathan, I miss you and I'm sorry I never got to perform Shine - sorry for myself. Throughout all the years that I knew you and loved you, through screaming in modern classes, A Murder of Crows, Too Many Monkeys, and endless laughs, I'm lucky to have been so close to you and had you in my life

I know this: Any of us would be lucky to have a life filled with as much love as JONATHAN had in his. It is Gay Pride Weekend, and I find myself thinking of the Family that CHET and BILLY and TIMMY and JONATHAN created together, and how Beautiful an expression of Life that is, and how the very thing we are all fighting for is the right to LOVE the way these men did and do. I am proud to know & have known each and every one of them, and grateful for their continued presence in my life! They have inspired me. They continue to inspire me. With Love, Arnold :)

All your bunnies and little mights at EDC miss you!!!

I am a young dancer who has worked with Jonathan many times. Yesterday, i was listening to a speech about Jonathan made by one of his close friends, Maxine CHapmin. One of the parts of this speech ouched my heart tremendously. She said, "The other day, i was talking to my friend and feeling sorry for myself because i just missed jonathan and i couldn't believe he was gone. My friend had never met jonathan but had heard me talk about him quite a bit. And she said to me, 'DOn't feel sorry for yourself. Feel lucky. You, out of all those other billions of people out there, were chosen to know this great man. you were chosen to experience his greatness.'" This touched me in a way a can't explain. Only those who have been priviledged enough to know Jon, can really conprehend what a great man he was. He taught his students that they can do anything, he taught them that they are beautiful and his allets empowered so many young dancers like myself. My thoughts and prayers are with Chet. Jonathan always had us rawr in his classes. Lets all rawr for Jonathan. I know he is watching down on us. DOnt be too sad, he wouldn't have wanted that.