The late King of Pop pioneered dance moves that looked mechanical and weren’t, like the moonwalk, and at least one that looked mechanical and was: The forward-leaning manoeuvre from his “Smooth Criminal” video. The secret is all in the shoes.
Trying to lean beyond one’s centre of gravity normally leads to a giant, awkward step forward to retain balance, so to achieve the 45-degree angle he wanted, Michael and his dancers used special shoes as well as a trick in the stage floor. When the time came for the move, a peg-like aperture would protrude from the dance floor. The heel of the dancers’ shoes featured a triangular cut out that could be hitched onto the peg, anchoring the dancers to lean much farther forward, and thus blowing the world’s collective mind. [Boing Boing Gadgets]
Michael
June 27, 2009 at 1:37 PM
Go to 7:15 in the video for the slanty action.
Report PermalinkJonathan Bird
June 27, 2009 at 3:46 PM
The leaning thing is at 7:20 for people who don’t wish to watch the whole video
Report PermalinkLuke Hopkins
June 27, 2009 at 4:18 PM
The aforementioned move is at 7:15.
Report PermalinkJohn
June 27, 2009 at 6:24 PM
A peg isn’t exactly an aperture! Besides the leaning move is so shopped.
Report PermalinkPatricia
July 12, 2009 at 6:52 AM
I dont care if there was a gadget that even make anything stuck while he was performing he was the greatest and we seem to be missing the point he was a great example of the american dream….AMEN
Report PermalinkRosan
August 31, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Can you buy that shoes??
Report PermalinkLaura-Ann Russello
September 15, 2009 at 11:41 AM
I love that move!!! And John…He did that live at his concerts too, so no it wasn’t photo-shopped. Also, it was 1987 when he made this video, and Photoshop didn’t exist or was just created, so no chance of that.
You were the Greatest MJ!!!
Report PermalinkRIP Michael!!!