Most people associate the expression "moonwalk" with the late King of Pop Michael Jackson. But in fact, this dance move was invented a little earlier, Jackson just popularized it and made its execution almost perfect. After the release of the unforgettable hit "Billie Jean", thousands of dancers around the world were concerned about the question: how to learn to moonwalk? Some have achieved great heights in this, but still Jackson will remain the king of the moonwalk for centuries.
“By the time I first performed the moonwalk during a performance, it was already popular in the city ghettos. Black children danced this simple dance at crossroads. In general, black dancers are great inventors, they came up with a lot of simple and ingenious movements. Not long before for my performance at the Motown Records anniversary, I was rehearsing in the kitchen when the idea came to me that I could use the moonwalk at this event. I turned to three black guys I knew to show me how to dance it correctly. They taught me "I learned the basics of the moonwalk, I added some of my own movements to it, so to speak, I adjusted it to myself. Performing it, I imagined that I was walking on the moon, moving simultaneously back and forth," Jackson recalls in his book of memoirs Moonwalk.
Now the moonwalk is used as an element of choreography by many dance groups performing with artists on stage. When performed professionally, from the outside it seems that the dancer seems to be floating backwards through the air, barely touching the floor with his toes. Technically, such movements seem difficult only externally. In fact, the moonwalk is quite simple; even a person who does not dance professionally can master it. There are a lot of video tutorials on this topic on the Internet, and there are also plenty of pictures with step-by-step action.
To learn how to moonwalk, follow our recommendations
1. Starting position: stand straight, back extended, arms bent at the elbows. The right leg is moved to the right with the toe forward, the left leg is moved back.
2. Standing on your toes, raise your left leg, keeping it slightly bent at the knee. We focus on the left leg.
3. Now we perform the main element - sliding. Raising your right foot at the heel, we begin to slide it back, touching the floor only with the toe.
4. While sliding, you need to “drop” (sharply lower) the heel of your left foot, while simultaneously doing the opposite with your right foot. Thus, the left foot was down, the right foot was up. This is the main element of the moonwalk.
Then it all depends on how well you master the sliding technique. The entire dance is a quick repetition of steps 1-4. At the same time, you need to master the technique of plastic movement of your hands. The arms, half bent at the elbows, alternately move back and forth. However, the movements of the arms in the moonwalk are not so important - as we remember, Michael Jackson, while performing his signature number, could raise his arms up, pat himself on the sides, etc.
Much depends on the dancer's shoes. The easiest way to learn to dance the moonwalk is in shoes with flat soles that glide well on the floor - moccasins are best. Although professional dancers can perform this movement in any shoes.
Recently, the popularity of dances has grown quite rapidly, many are interested in various directions, features, and strive to create some of their own unusual unique elements. This is mainly possible for experienced professionals with a wealth of knowledge, experience and developed physical fitness. One of these unique elements, a very difficult format, is the moonwalk. Let's try to figure out how to do it for professionals, and how to teach it to beginners.
How to learn to moonwalk
Probably, many have already heard about this element of dance, but not everyone knows exactly what it is. Actually, the moonwalk is a sliding technique in which the dancer moves backward, imitating an action similar to walking. This may be a shocking fact for most, but this performance technique was not invented by Michael Jackson. Yes, of course, he created the stunning popular moonwalk, but he was not the ideological creator. It is unknown who exactly the creator was, but there are examples performed by Charlie Chaplin himself, in a performance scene in a restaurant during the filming of the film “Modern Times”. And, as you know, Chaplin lived long before the popular Michael Jackson. The element itself is used in different formats and styles, for example, with breakdancing or tap dancing, one might say it is universal.
How to learn to moonwalk
It is customary to call the moonwalk a dance, although this is only a part of it, and not the whole composition. As already mentioned, Michael Jackson attracted the main attention with his masterly performance during a stage performance on TV in the eighties.
The effect of the full picture of the performance cannot be omitted; perhaps this contributed to attracting strong attention to the dance. Michael was dressed in black short pants, silver socks, drawing attention to his feet, performing the number, he turned around on his axis, stood in a pose and began moonwalking backwards. The public was delighted and since then, it has become Jackson's calling card. Speaking about this performance, one cannot fail to mention the trick of tilting the body forward towards the floor at forty-five degrees. Michael Jackson was truly a virtuoso dancer, however, there is a little secret. It includes some kind of hidden boot design, which he later patented.
Lessons on how to learn to moonwalk
So, everything is quite simple than it might seem at first glance. The main thing is to start moving, the body will eventually stop resisting. Take, for example, a video of a dance, and, repeating the movements, try to dance yourself. Wear shoes with soft soles; there should be no heels; for the first training, thick socks are fine. Basic technique for this element:
Take a standing position, shift your body weight to your left leg, place your right leg on your toe.
Gradually shift your weight to your right, slowly sliding your left foot backwards, without lifting the sole of the shoe.
Then, the right one is placed on the sole with a full foot, the left one, on the contrary, takes on a standing position on the toe.
And the body weight ends up on the left, which is still on the toe, and continues to slide.
Then, the actions are duplicated in a new way, you see, everything is more than elementary. 
How to learn the moonwalk at home
Well, if you are not yet a professional, an amateur can also do this technique. It is recommended that the amateur first watch several clips of the moonwalk being performed. You can take a couple of performances by the same Michael Jackson. Consider all movements and the sequence of his actions very carefully. When studying at home, find the room with the smoothest floor possible. Laminate or parquet flooring is perfect. Rough floors can not only hinder proper learning, but can also help cause injuries. It is very advisable to have a floor-length mirror at home, this is necessary so that you can fully evaluate your actions. Stand up straight, straighten your shoulders, look at yourself in the mirror to see if you are standing straight. The next step is to place the right one in front of the left one so that the heel is in line with the toe of the left one. Bend your left knees slightly and stand on your toes. Leaning on it, begin to slowly roll your right back, bending your knees. Simultaneously with this action, lower your left leg down until your foot touches the floor. And it turned out that the legs changed position, exchanging actions. Now, the same actions slowly occur, changing the positions of the legs. It is important that the feet only need to be raised without separating from the surface. And make movements only smoothly, the tempo can be changed, but maintain elegance. Try to learn to the songs of Michael Jackson, perhaps it will be easier for you to perform a similarly flawless dance. Periodically look at yourself in the mirror, correcting shortcomings, but at first there will be some.
How to quickly learn the moonwalk
If you think about it, this is a simple gait, turned only in the opposite direction. Anyone can learn it quickly, almost regardless of the level of dancing. 
To accelerate your learning, increase your training time, because with perseverance you can learn anything. Wear flat shoes, everything depends on choosing the right shoes, this is your tool. To eradicate initial mistakes, choose a place with a smooth floor and a full-length mirror. The shortcomings eliminated in the first stages will not develop into a habit, and therefore will not interfere with dancing for your pleasure. Prepare as if for a step, raising your left foot on your toes, slightly soft at the knees. The distance between them is approximately twenty centimeters. The right one is slightly forward, the tip of the second one is at the level of the right heel. And slowly start sliding, moving backwards. Perform a supporting action by lifting with your right leg. The left one, meanwhile, stands up completely and neatly. The result of the maneuvers, alternate shifts. In order to quickly understand the principle and make it a body habit, perform sliding over a long distance. Moonwalk is a fairly simple dance and can be mastered in a short time. It is much more difficult to achieve smoothness and the gliding effect without action; this will require more effort and frequency of training. Dance like Michael, why not, a huge number of people of different ages and levels have proven this. Watch amateur videos, make your own and don’t stop there.
The Moonwalk is a dance movement that was introduced to the world by the King of Pop Michael Jackson. At his concert in 1983, he demonstrated this movement to the general public for the first time. It was known in narrow dance circles before, but Jackson managed to popularize it largely thanks to the skill of its performance. Just like then, today many people associate the moonwalk exclusively with Michael Jackson; many try to repeat it, but not everyone succeeds the first time. To make your task easier, if you decide to learn how to do the moonwalk, use the following recommendations.
Execution technique
- Wear shoes with flexible soles. No matter how hard you train, you will not be able to perform this movement according to all the rules in hard shoes. If shoes restrict your movements, you can start training simply in socks - then your feet will glide more freely and your toes will bend better.
- Find a place with a level and smooth floor. The best surface is slippery tiles or parquet. Over time, you will be able to perform this dance move on less slippery surfaces, but it takes practice.
- Find a mirror large enough to place on the floor so you can watch your own movements while performing the moonwalk. This way you can fix errors immediately after they occur.
- Before starting your workout, be sure to prepare the muscles and joints of your legs by doing a short warm-up for your ankles and toes.
- To move directly to the moonwalk, place your feet together and then move your right foot forward. The feet should still be on the floor. Don't tear them off.
- After this, transfer your body weight to your right leg and lift the heel of this leg. The left leg remains on the floor.
- Start lowering your right heel to the floor, while making a sliding movement with your other leg along the floor. When your right heel hits the floor, you should immediately lift your left heel up. At the same time, make sure that the heel of your right foot and the toe of your left are at the same level.
- After this, repeat the previous step, only for the opposite leg. That is, the right foot will now slide along the floor, and the left heel will lower to the floor.
- When performing movements, do not “fall” on your side, carefully monitor the center of gravity and control it.
- Perform the movements slowly at first, then speed up when you feel like you are doing the moonwalk correctly.
- Once you've mastered the moonwalk in socks, continue to hone your skills while wearing shoes.
Remember that all your movements must be smooth and careful to avoid injury. You will most likely not be able to do everything right the first time, so be prepared for this. But over time, success will await you; the main thing is not to stop training and not quit what you started halfway.
Before we learn how to learn how to do a moonwalk, let's find out what it is. (backslide) is one of the most popular dance techniques of the twentieth century, which creates the illusion of moving forward, although the dancer is moving backward. Thorough mastery of the technique allows you to move sideways, forward and even in a circle.
Moonwalk: before Jackson and after
Jazz musician Cab Calloway first demonstrated something resembling a moonwalk back in 1932. Well, in a performance close to modern, it could be seen in 1945 in the film “Children of Paradise”. There, two mimes expertly moonwalked. After that, many actors, dancers and singers adopted it. Each of them tried to bring something new to the movement technique. For example, rock singer David Bowie first performed this dance technique while remaining in place. Here the full power of art was revealed through dance. In 1974, Michael Jackson attended the rocker's concert, and nine years later he moonwalked on a TV show. A little later, during the performance of the song “Billie Jean,” the trick was repeated, which made Michael popular all over the world and turned it into his calling card.
How to learn to do the moonwalk?
1. Stand sideways in front of the mirror. Arms relaxed, legs together. We distribute the body weight evenly on both legs.
2. Place your left foot back on your toes, and then slowly transfer your body weight to it, leaning back slightly. Hold this position until you feel the pressure on your leg.
3. With a sliding movement, we move our right leg back, trying not to tear it off the floor. You need to slide as far as possible, while keeping your body weight on your left leg.
4. At the moment when the heel of the left foot falls to the floor, the heel of the right one rises. The body weight is calmly transferred to the right leg (this is the key point in the question: “How to learn to do the moonwalk?”).
5. Now the left leg is free and can slide backwards freely on the floor. As soon as the backward slide reaches the farthest possible position, the heels of the feet change (left - raise, right - lower) and the body weight is again transferred to the left leg. It turns out that we are returning to point No. 2. These movements must be looped one after another and smoothly move backwards. The position in point No. 1 is the starting one, and there is no need to repeat it. Once your legs are used to all the positions, work on your tempo and fluidity. It is important to slide only in a straight line and not deviate. Success will also depend on shoes and floor covering. Remember the performances of Michael Jackson. Personally, I don’t remember any where he would slide in the sneakers, because they are much higher than regular shoes. At first, I advise you to use socks and be sure to track your movements in the mirror or using video.
If you haven’t figured out how to learn how to moonwalk, then watch an instructional video from the “learning to dance together” category or go to a multidisciplinary dance studio, where you can master this technique under the guidance of a professional choreographer.
Hi all. Many of you have heard about Michael Jackson, who is the king of pop music; over the years of his life he managed to come up with many brilliant songs that instantly became hits. He held a large number of concerts that were attended by millions of people.
In addition, his popularity was brought by countless operations that allowed him from an African-American boy to become a man with white skin. Maybe it was a stupid idea, but it’s not for us to judge him.
But one way or another, many people in the world are crazy about the Moonwalk. This is the movement he used while performing his songs. One way or another, even I wanted to learn this gait. If you don't know the technique, you will never succeed. After watching the video on YouTube, everything became clear and a little practice allowed me to learn. After this article you will learn too.
Moonwalk technique
The technique is as follows:
- Place your legs lengthwise, shoulder width apart;
- Place the leg that is behind you on your toe;
- At this moment the front leg begins to be pulled back;
- When they meet each other, you lower the first leg onto the heel, and the leg that is dragging rises to the toe;
- Continue from the first point only.
Additional explanation of the technique
Yes, I read my explanation and nothing became clear to me. This won’t work, I’d rather show you a video that helped me learn the moonwalk.
Now I think the topic can be considered solved. I did my best to explain how to do the moonwalk. Now you can start training without leaving your home and in 10-15 minutes you will get results. There is nothing difficult, as I mentioned above, the main thing is to know the technique.
Try it. And I will say goodbye for now.
Sincerely, Journal Administrator.