“He Wanted Me to Know That…” — Mayte Garcia Reveals the Surprise Gift Prince Gave Her a Week After Finishing Her Duty

For fans of Prince, the mystique surrounding his life and artistry is endless. But few know the intimate story Mayte Garcia, dancer, choreographer, and one of Prince’s closest collaborators, recently shared about a deeply personal moment that revealed the heart behind the legend.

Garcia, who first met Prince as a teenager and later toured with him during some of his most iconic eras, opened up about a surprise gift he sent her exactly seven days after she completed a grueling tour commitment — a gift that “explained who he really was without a single word.”

A Connection Beyond the Spotlight

Their story began when Prince discovered the young belly dancer’s unique artistry and passion. Over years of performing together, their professional relationship blossomed into profound friendship and love.

“Working with him was the most intense, beautiful education of my life,” Garcia recalled. “He demanded perfection, but also passion. You couldn’t fake it around him — he felt everything.”

The Exhaustion and the Unexpected Gesture

After months of rehearsals and world tours, Garcia felt she had poured her soul into every performance, leaving her emotionally spent. Then, a week later, a mysterious violet-wrapped package arrived at her Los Angeles home — no note, only a delicate gold pendant.

The pendant carried a symbol blending Prince’s iconic Love Symbol with the Arabic word for “soul,” a poignant representation of their shared journey.

Music as a Language of Gratitude

Alongside the pendant was a cassette tape simply labeled “7,” containing an unreleased instrumental melody Prince had recorded the day after their final show together.

Garcia described the tape as “wordless, like him saying everything he couldn’t put into language.” It was a quiet, powerful thank you — a musical embrace that conveyed his appreciation and recognition without uttering a single word.

“He wanted me to hear what gratitude sounded like,” she said.

More Than Romance — Acknowledgment and Art

Reflecting on the significance of this gift decades later, Garcia said it wasn’t about romance or fame but about genuine acknowledgment.

“He wanted me to know that I mattered — not just to the work, but to the spirit of what we were creating.”

For Prince, love and art were inseparable — both given freely and received only when sincere.

A Secret Kept Close

Mayte keeps the pendant and tape in a small wooden box, never shared publicly, a private symbol of a special bond.

“Some gifts aren’t meant to be shown. They’re meant to be kept — like a secret heartbeat,” she explained.

The Legacy of a Quiet Magic

In this intimate gesture, Garcia sees the essence of Prince: a man who spoke in symbols, surprises, and sound, showing that love is something to be made, shown, and deeply felt.

“He wanted me to know that love isn’t just said — it’s made, shown, and felt,” she reflected. “That’s the kind of magic he left behind.”