The moonwalk is Michael Jackson’s signature dance move, first performed on the Motown 25 TV special in 1983 and instantly becoming one of the most iconic and imitated moves in pop culture history.
The Historic Moment
Date: May 16, 1983
Event: Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (NBC)
Song: “Billie Jean”
Audience: 47 million live viewers
Michael Jackson, wearing his iconic single white glove, black fedora, and sparkly jacket, performed the moonwalk for the first time on national television during “Billie Jean.” The move stopped the show—even the audience didn’t react immediately because they couldn’t process what they’d just seen.
Fred Astaire’s reaction: Called MJ the next day, said “You’re an angry dancer. I’m the same way. I used to do the same thing with my cane.”
The Move (Actually Called “Backslide”)
Technique:
- Appears to walk forward while sliding backward
- Weight on ball of one foot while sliding other foot back
- Requires smooth floor (MJ wore leather-soled loafers)
- Illusion of defying physics/gravity
Origin of technique:
- NOT invented by Michael Jackson—he never claimed to invent it
- 1930s-40s: Tap dancers performed similar moves (Cab Calloway, Bill Bailey)
- 1970s: Popping/boogaloo dancers (West Coast funk styles) did backslide
- 1982: Jeffrey Daniel (Soul Train dancer, Shalamar) taught it to MJ
MJ’s innovation: Perfected and popularized it globally on the biggest stage.
Why It Became Iconic
Visual impact:
- Defies audience’s understanding of physics
- Looks effortless (actually requires significant practice)
- Unexpected—no one anticipated it during “Billie Jean”
Michael Jackson’s star power:
- Already famous, but moonwalk cemented “King of Pop” status
- Became his signature move—instantly associated with him
Media proliferation:
- TV special rebroadcast repeatedly
- MTV age—music videos everywhere
- Global reach unprecedented for dance move
Cultural Explosion
Immediate impact (1983-1984):
- Kids worldwide attempted to moonwalk on linoleum floors, sidewalks, gyms
- Dance studios taught moonwalk classes
- Every MJ impersonator HAD to do it
- Referenced in movies, TV shows, commercials
Lasting ubiquity:
- 40+ years later, still attempted by dancers, performers, regular people
- Fortnite emote (2018)
- Every street performer doing MJ tribute includes it
Evolution & Variations
MJ continued innovating:
- Forward moonwalk (appears to walk backward while going forward)
- Sideways moonwalk
- Circle moonwalk (rotating while backsliding)
- Incorporated into full choreography (Smooth Criminal lean, anti-gravity illusion)
Other dancers’ contributions:
- Popping/boogaloo evolution continued independently
- Animation, robotics, gliding styles incorporated backslide elements
Legal & Credit Issues
1990s: Some claimed Michael Jackson stole the move without credit
MJ’s response: Always acknowledged he learned from street dancers and Jeffrey Daniel
Consensus: He popularized it but never claimed invention
Cooley Jaxson (2000s): Claimed he taught MJ the moonwalk, sought recognition
Complexity: Multiple dancers contributed to MJ’s education in street dance styles—hard to credit single originator
Impact on Pop Culture
Permanent fixture:
- Every pop star since MJ has been compared to him—moonwalk is the standard
- Usher, Chris Brown, Bruno Mars, BTS—all perform moonwalk as MJ homage
- Became shorthand for “incredible dance move”
“Can you moonwalk?” became common party question/challenge
Technical Mastery
Why it’s hard:
- Requires core strength, balance, ankle flexibility
- Smooth floor mandatory
- Proper footwear (leather soles) helps
- Illusion breaks if technique isn’t perfect
Amateur vs. professional:
- Anyone can attempt it, few master it
- MJ’s version remained unmatched—smoothness, style, confidence
Legacy
The moonwalk is to dance what the guitar solo is to rock—an iconic moment that defined an era and artist.
Michael Jackson’s influence:
- Made dance ESSENTIAL to pop music (before MJ, singing > dancing for male pop stars)
- Set standard that every pop artist must also be dancer
- Proved a single move could define a career
Immortality:
- Even people who don’t know Michael Jackson’s music know the moonwalk
- Transcended music to become universal cultural knowledge
- Will remain associated with MJ forever
The moonwalk’s 40+ years of cultural dominance makes it one of the most successful individual dance moves in history—rivaled only by moves like the Carlton or Macarena, but with far more cultural prestige.
Sources:
Motown 25 Archive
Rolling Stone - Michael Jackson’s Moonwalk
The New York Times - Dance Origins