MAUMEE – Michael Jackson was six years old when he took the stage as the lead singer of the Jackson 5, launching a solo career that made him one of the top artists of all time.
Jackson Price was six years old when he made his first public debut, dancing to Michael Jackson’s music during a Relay for Life event, and has continually widened his fan base.
Now 23 and a recent graduate of Bowling Green State University, Price is known as “that Michael Jackson kid,” having performed the King of Pop’s signature moves hundreds of times – from impromptu dancing in the Whitehouse Park pavilion and in his hometown of Waterville, to OSU basketball halftime shows, festivals, birthday parties and solo events.
On Aug. 29 – Michael Jackson’s birthday – Price will take to the stage at the Maumee Indoor Theater to a sold-out show of 490.
“When I was younger, I never would have thought that the Maumee Indoor was something I could do,” he said.
In 2021, after graduating from St. Francis de Sales, he hosted a graduation party performance at the Maumee Indoor for his friends and followers, and counted about 100. After earning his education degree from BGSU this spring, he decided to keep the tradition going by booking the Maumee Indoor again. But this time, he has dancers from Evolve Dance Studio – Elliot Worthington, Kennedy Worthington, Italia Burciaga, Jayla Garland and MaKayla Cox – backing him up. Elliot taught him some new dance moves and helped him up his game. And that’s what he wants.
“Michael said to study the greats and be greater. I’m trying to learn new stuff and put myself out there,” Price said.
The show will also feature lighting and sound like he’s not had before, as 2025 Anthony Wayne High School graduate Devin Schroeder has joined the team.
“Devin has added a performance dimension I’ve not had before,” Price said.
For those who didn’t get tickets in time for the Maumee Indoor, Price promises that he’s already got his sights set on offering bigger shows. His goals include filling the 900-seat Valentine and the 2,400 seat Stranahan. But his motivation to go bigger isn’t for the fame or fortune, but rather to spread what he sees as Michael Jackson’s message.
“I take every day as an opportunity to be there and be present and be grateful for the opportunity that God’s allowing me to do this,” he said. “It’s using the power of dance to spread love and to unite people. Michael’s music is so powerful. His music touches people around the world – young, old and fans that haven’t even been born yet.”
Growing up, Price’s family listened to Michael Jackson music, but the first time he saw the “Thriller” video, he was hooked.
“I remember looking at that video and thinking that it was me – because he was brown and had the same hair. It was something about seeing a person of color doing something so encouraging and uplifting. I wanted to be just like him,” recalled Price.
While he took a few dance lessons as a kid, most of his moves were self-taught by watching videos and then practicing in front of a mirror.
“I taught myself how to dance and learned all of Michael’s moves – his facial expressions, how he moves his shoulders, and even where to point my finger,” he said.
As a student at Lial Catholic School, he would urge his friends to get on the counter in the bathroom and make beats. On the playground, he preferred working on his dance moves to playing games. As a freshman at St. Francis, he was in the locker room with members of the basketball team, and they were talking about what each of them had gotten for Christmas.
“I told them I got a new Michael Jackson jacket. They all started laughing,” he recalled. “I told them that I do Michael Jackson performances. They didn’t believe me, so I did a move. The coach saw and said, ‘You should do that at the varsity halftime.’ That was the biggest game of our schedule, playing our rival to a packed house. Ever since then I started getting gigs. I became ‘that Michael Jackson kid.’ The rest has led to here.”
The foundation of his shows was in busking – setting up a portable screen to serve as a changing room, and performing in public areas, then birthday parties, weddings, fundraisers, nursing home and schools. Later, he added bigger shows, like Hollywood Casino, the Novi, Mich. BBQ Fest and a gig in Florida that’s come up on Halloween weekend.
Preparing for a show as big as the Maumee Indoor has meant working even harder to perfect each move. Michael Jackson was a perfectionist, and was clean and precise in every move.
“I run through it so many times until it’s second nature. Every time I find things that I can do better. I want to be the best that I can be. And I want it to show on stage.”
While he has his sights set on Toledo venues, Price said his hope is to one day get to Las Vegas or Broadway or Hollywood, especially now that he has an agent.
“I want to keep inspiring people. The main reason I dance is to help people find their dream. To tell them that you can do what you want to do. If you love it, you will become it.”
