History Main / MoonwalkDance

In 1983 Music/MichaelJackson appeared during the ''{{Motown}} 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever'' anniversary special. After performing with his brothers he did a solo performance, namely his hit song "Billie Jean" from his then recent album ''Music/{{Thriller}}''. As Jackson amazed the crowd with his smooth and undeniably "cool" dance moves he suddenly premiered a dance that looks like the person is walking forwards while going backwards at the same time. Despite only lasting a few seconds the crowd went berserk and next day Jackson was the talk of the town, increasing his already massive national and international exposure. Creator/FredAstaire saw the show on TV and personally called up Michael to meet him and show him how to do that particular dance? A question many people back then wondered about. Several have tried it and it is possible to do after much practicing, but remains quite complex for beginners.

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* Michael Jackson debuted the moonwalk in the ''Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever'' TV special in 1983.

** Averted. [[InformedAbility She just walks backwards]].

*** FunnyAneurysmMoment: When you realize the child actor actually did meet Michael Jackson in real life.

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In 1983 Music/MichaelJackson appeared during the ''25 years of {{Motown}}'' anniversary special. After performing with his brothers he did a solo performance, namely his hit song "Billie Jean" from his then recent album ''Music/{{Thriller}}''. As Jackson amazed the crowd with his smooth and undeniably "cool" dance moves he suddenly premiered a dance that looks like the person is walking forwards while going backwards at the same time. Despite only lasting a few seconds the crowd went berserk and next day Jackson was the talk of the town, increasing his already massive national and international exposure. Creator/FredAstaire saw the show on TV and personally called up Michael to meet him and show him how to do that particular dance? A question many people back then wondered about. Several have tried it and it is possible to do after much practicing, but remains quite complex for beginners.

* In ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII'' Marty is [[BulletDancing forced to dance while Buford Tannen shoots at his feet]]. He confuses the 19th century cowboy by performing the moonwalk, even singing part of "Billie Jean" under his breath.

* In ''Film/BackToTheFuturePartIII'' Marty is [[BulletDancing forced to dance while a gunslinger shoots at his feet]]. He confuses the 19th century cowboy by performing the moonwalk.

* The 1974 film version of ''Literature/TheLittlePrince'' featured Bob Fosse as a snake doing a dance that is also considered a precursor to the Moonwalk. It helps that he is sporting an all black jacket, pants, and hat combo with a white shirt, much like MJ's signature style.

* Pinocchio performs it near the end of ''WesternAnimation/{{Shrek}} Two'' while imitating Jackson.

[[WrongfullyAttributed Yet Michael didn't invent it, as he was quick to point out himself]]. He had learned it from some black school children in the early 1980s. Other sources claim he was inspired by Music/JamesBrown who also used the move and/or mime artist Marcel Marceau during his famous "walking against the wind" sketch, where he pretends to be pushed backwards by a gust of wind. Even Music/CabCalloway claimed [[OlderThanTheyThink that the dance move had been around since the 1930s]] and [[CallARabbitASmeerp that they called it "The Buzz" back then. Others claim it was named the "backslide"]]. However, none of these early prototypes quite match the magic and swift perfection of Jackson's performance. Generally most of them are much slower and the dancers don't move backwards very far. Although if they had the same amount of massive media exposure Jackson had at the time things might have been different.

** In the music video of ''Ghosts'' Michael turns himself into a skeleton, then performs the moonwalk.

** In the episode "Stark Raving Dad", where the real Michael Jackson voiced himself Jackson (as the mental patient Leon Kompowski who thinks he is Jackson) demonstrates this dance because Homer has never heard of the famous singer. Homer is amazed at the moonwalk and asks Michael: "How do you do that thing with your feet?" Jackson shows him, Homer tries, but he slides forwards instead of backwards. Later in the episode, after Bart is informed by phone that Michael Jackson will pay a visit to his house, he tells Marge that Homer is in an asylum and performs the moonwalk while humming the melody of "Beat It" at the same time.

* There have been several dancers credited with inventing the moonwalk before Jackson: Jeffery Daniels (Shalamar), Bill Bailey, Music/CabCalloway, Music/JamesBrown,...

The dance was dubbed the ''moonwalk'', because it seemed as if the performer was walking on the moon while doing it. It became an essential part of every Jackson concert and for many people the highlight of the show. He named both his autobiography and movie ''Film/{{Moonwalker}}'' after it and the dance became one of his trademarks.

[[quoteright:263:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/1102464-moonwalk_4793.jpg]]

Also a subtrope of DancingTropes.

[[WrongfullyAttributed Yet Michael didn't invent it, as he was quick to point out himself]]. He had learned it from some black school children in the early 1980s. Other sources claim he was inspired by Music/JamesBrown who also used the move and/or mime artist Marcel Marceau during his famous "walking against the wind" sketch, where he pretends to be pushed backwards by a gust of wind. Even Music/CabCalloway claimed [[OlderThanTheyThink that the dance move had been around since the 1930s]] and [[CallARabbitASmeerp that they called it "The Buzz" back then. Others claim it was named the "backslide"]]. However, none of these early prototypes quite match the magic and swift perfection of Jackson's performance. Generally most of them are much slower and the dancers don't move backwards very far. Though, to be fair, if they had the same amount of massive media exposure Jackson had at the time [[WhatCouldHaveBeen things might have been different]].

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* ''ComicBook/{{Urbanus}}'': In one album Urbanus, Amedee and Nabuko Donosor visit Jackson in his Neverland Ranch and try to impress him by performing the moonwalk. As they slide out through his door he is able to close it and get ride of them.