The day that Michael Jackson died, Germaine Greer, writing in the Guardian, compared him to Nijinsky and Nureyev, pointing not just to his skill, but also to his extraordinary innovation as a choreographer, which had impacted the dance world forever.
Already since his death, the demand for impersonators has skyrocketed, but they’re not the only ones to have been imitating Jackson over the years. Mimicry of his style can be found from Bollywood films and Filipino prisons, to Saturday Night Live skits and Justin Timberlake’s entire oeuvre.
But a less obvious – and perhaps more powerful – influence is the one he’s had on choreographers and dancers over the past 30 years; it seems impossible to imagine a dancer who might not be, in some way, inspired by Jackson’s originality and innovation.
Many of us grew up dancing to Jackson in the backyard. From the early disco beat of Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough to the tough street punch of Beat It and Bad, we learnt to move by mimicking what we saw him do on Rage or Video Hits.
We practised the Moonwalk of course, but he put his signature on many other remarkable moves too: the awesome toe stand, the syncopated shoulder pop, the gravity-defying lean of Smooth Criminal (we didn’t know that he wore special shoes for that). And later on there were the global dance moves he reappropriated and made entirely his own in Black and White.
He was a master of the synchronised group dance, such as the zombie monster mash of Thriller, or 1992’s elaborate Egyptian-themed clip for Remember the Time.
But it’s when he’s dancing on his own, as shown here at the Motown 25th Anniversary Special from 1983, that his innovative style and innate talent for interpretation is most powerful.
For once Germaine Greer got it right and said something nice about someone. When Thriller first appeared with its MTV clips, people were truly taken by his dancing – it was quite special then and the fact that he has been copied so prolifically is a testament to his ability and talent. Like other artists, great talent often comes with a downside; but we’re lucky to live in a time where actual originality can be
seen by and inspire such a wide audience.
Gracias por este homenaje y si es un genio de nuestro tiempo.
Thank you for this lovely tribute, which I am delighted to find on the blog of The Australian Ballet.
Fred Astaire described Michael Jackson as “an angry dancer”. Isn’t that a fascinating description?
Thanks Lorelei for cutting through all the hype in the papers – that Billie Jean dance clip reminds us of the star before the downward spiral.
This is such a great tribute, Thankyou! I can only agree with Pru and Cassandra – it’s so nice to see this article here on the Behind Ballet blog! Thankyou for verbalising so thoughtfully what we are all feeling about losing this amazing performer! It made me feel better to read this! (Great choice of photo too). x
Thank you for giving Michael Joseph Jackson the acknowledgement he earned and deserved. Michael’s dancing was and is the best.