How to learn Michael Jacksons MOONWALK!
How to Learn the Moonwalk (Part 1)
Anthony King’s free mini moonwalk lesson has been viewed over 7 million times, so before you start take a look at the mini Moonwalk lesson that covers the basics. You can view it by clicking here. If you want more detail and more serious lessons check out Anthony’s proper professional DVD “Anthony King’s Thriller Dance Workout”, where he’s filmed by 9 cameras teaching all the slides and Michael Jackson Style moves, by clicking here!
“Although Michael Jackson hugely popularised the moonwalk,
as it is known today, the step is also known as the “backslide”.
The moonwalk is actually a slightly different move which is a
combination of floating, gliding and sliding, and has a more
circular movement, which I like to call the “circle slide”. Michael
Jackson first showcased the moonwalk in his legendary
performance of “Billie Jean” in 1983 at the Motown 25th
anniversary show. But in actual fact dancers like the legendary
Jeffrey Daniel, who subsequently choreographed for Michael
Jackson were performing the backslide years earlier. Before that
James Brown performed a kind of moonwalk but it was a street
dancer called Cooley Jackson who apparently taught Michael
Jackson the backslide. One of the most impressive backslides was
performed in 1955 at the end of a tap sequence by the entertainer
Bill Bailey. It is clear though, that although he did not invent it, it
was Michael Jackson who has made the move world famous. So I
think we should give it a try…here goes!
Ideally for this move you will need a smooth surface, comfortable
trainers or any light shoes and comfortable clothes. Although it is
ideal that you have a smooth surface to execute the moonwalk,
it can be executed on carpet or pavement or any surface that
doesn’t have a substantially high amount of friction (like sand or
mud, for example!). Pavement or less is fine. In fact I suggest that
you practice on a rougher floor first to get used to the mechanics
of the steps and get used to pushing and transferring the weight
into the floor so that it is easier when you want to perform or
show off the move on the dance floor! The illusion of this move
comes from the execution of the weight transfer, accurately, as
opposed to the sliding which is why the moonwalk is classed as a
“popping” move and not necessarily a “glide” as it may seem.
Starting position:
Start with your back straight and your feet
together pointing forward.
Step 2:
“The L position”: Lift your right leg
and place the toes of your right foot down on the floor
approximately a foot behind your left leg.
Try and keep a solid stance, so that you can put weight onto your
back foot and toes, while keeping your “L” shape stance. You’ll
achieve this by varying the position of your back foot in relation to
your front. If it’s too close then it might be unstable. Keep a solid L
shape!
Step 3: Balance:
If you feel off balance you can increase the width
between your legs to create a wider centre of gravity.”
Step 4: The slide:
Lean back onto your rear leg and slide the left
heal back and into the floor, so that it finishes behind the right
leg. At the end of the movement snap the heel of your left foot
up, off the floor. It’s important that you keep the heels of your feet
at opposite positions and then only snap them and reverse the
positions very quickly in one swift step.
The aim, is for one foot to be vertical and the other to be
horizontal, and then snap, keeping the form in reverse. Only snap
your heel down at the END of the movement. Although this is
difficult at first, you’ll get used to it.
Purposefully keep your heel up right, until it’s physically
impossible to sustain your L shape because of your weight
transfer and heel snap while sliding, push the heel of your foot
backwards but most importantly DOWN, into the floor. This is
important. The pressure of your heel should push into the floor so
that it is an effort to slide the foot backwards.
It is this effort that creates the illusion and the force of the snap.
Really focus on pushing your heel into the floor and back rather
than just dragging your foot backwards. Again, it’s the up and down
thinking and movement that will create the illusion of the move.
The toes of both feet should never come off the floor even if your
heels do.
Part 2 coming soon…
