Stephan A. Love was the founder of the Next Generation Dance Theater for inner-city youths. He died on January 18, 1993. He was 38 and lived in Philadelphia. (Photo: Sandra Aldridge)

He died of AIDS, The Associated Press reported.

Mr. Love founded Next Generation in 1985 when he was a staff instructor at the Jazz Dance Center in Philadelphia. The troupe, whose dancers are 10 to 17 years old, has performed at schools in the Philadelphia area, at charitable and civic functions and at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

He is survived by his companion, Terrence Connell. Terry Connell lives in the Boston area still following the random, logical rhythms of his life. For now, this includes being an acupuncturist, a yoga teacher, and writer. He’s an avid reader, runner and a student of life who knows better than to assume anything, yet continues to hope for the best. "I found my freedom, and my own sense of self when I met my partner, Stephan in the late 80s when big hair and shoulder pads were fashionable and Madonna was just beginning her rise to fame. Less than five years later, Stephan died from AIDS complications, in 1993.

It's been almost 20 years since AIDS changed my world, and I am now living in Boston, working as an acupuncturist and yoga instructor. I wrote and published "Slaves to the Rhythm" in November of 2010, in response to the family tree my father sent to our family, where there is no mention of Stephan. "Slaves" follows these two very different, yet inextricably connected parts of my life; my repressed childhood and early 20s, and my last year with Stephan.

I have had an extraordinary life, met some amazing people, and been fortunate enough experience enough love, laughter, death - and life - than most. As I near my 50th birthday, I am left with a renewed sense of awe and wonder and what I've experienced so far, and feel the familiar undertow of curiosity for a future that calls to me with a knowing grin."

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/21/obituaries/stephan-a-love-dance-troupe-founder-38.html

Further Readings:

Slaves to the Rhythm: A Love Story by Terry Connell
Paperback: 242 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (October 31, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1456328344
ISBN-13: 978-1456328344
Amazon: Slaves to the Rhythm: A Love Story

An incomplete family tree prompts author Terry Connell to share his story, in his words - and what a story it is. One of eleven children, Connell spend half of "Slaves" sharing what his life was like growing up a repressed, gay boy in an Irish Catholic family where "religion is the twelfth - and favored - child." It is a curious, difficult, often funny path that eventually leads Connell to meet Stephan, the man who would change his life. Less than five years later, Stephan died from AIDS complications. The second half of Slaves to the Rhythm takes an intimate look at Terry and Stephan's last year together. Through Terry's journal writings, we witness the incredible strength and courage required to care for someone as they surrender their lives little by little each day. Raw, powerful, honest, and incredibly beautiful, Terry brings us into the heart of a relationship built on love and respect, sharing the rarest of moments when love is all we need....and all we have.

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