Michael Jackson Moonwalk Dance Move Secret: Who Really Taught Him Revealed

Michael Jackson learned his Moonwalk dance move in the most unexpected way.

Jackson brought out the game-changer dance move when he performed it for the first time at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium during a March 1983 show. However, it became more visible to the public when "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" televised the slide.

Due to the popularity of Moonwalk, many people have been claiming they were the ones who taught the late King of Pop how to do it. However, the singer once revealed how he truly came up with it.

Michael Jackson's Moonwalk Secret: How Did It Start?

Far from what the claims said, Jackson revealed in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey the truth about the dance move. To everyone's surprise, he shared that he learned the dance from the children in their neighborhoods who danced the same style.

"The moonwalk came from the beautiful children, black kids that live in the ghetto," he said, adding, "the inner cities who are brilliant and have that natural talent for dancing, any of them like the running man, they come up with these dances, all I did was enhance the dance."

Jackson popularized the dance move in Don Mischer-produced and directed a show where he performed his then-new song, "Billie Jean."

According to Smooth Radio, 35 percent of TV owners in the US tuned in to "Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever" and witnessed Jackson's performance.

Don told Huffington Post that he and executive producer Suzanne de Passe banned everyone from promoting new music since the show focused on showing greatest hits. However, Jackson was determined to perform his new song, "Billie Jean."

Amid their concerns, they changed their mind after seeing him perform the track in rehearsals and realizing it was something special.

Michael Jackson Reportedly Received Lessons From Cooley Jaxson

Although Jackson himself saw the Moonwalk dance move, he still reportedy worked with Cooley Jaxson to expand it and learn "the backslide."

Jaxson told ABC News in 2018 that the backslide improved the Moonwalk and created an illusion that Jackson was walking forward although he was sliding backward. He revealed that he and the "Soul Train" dancers took a long time to perfectly do the move, with the late singer struggling to understand the concept at first.

Despite the confirmation from Jackson himself, more people claimed they were the ones who taught him how to Moonwalk, including Bobby Brown and Shalamar member, Jeffrey Daniel.

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Michael Jackson