How to Moonwalk

• by Darcy Logan

Introduction

• When most people think of the Moonwalk they think Michael Jackson. Some even believe that Jackson created the moonwalk, especially since it appears Jackson claimed this in his autobiography Moonwalk.¹ He didn't; however, he reintroduced the dance to popular culture on May 16, 1983, by performing it on the Motown 25th Anniversary Special.² The move, originally called the backslide, was called the moonwalk.² In reality, the backslide or moonwalk had been performed for years by dancing greats such as Bill Bailey and Sammy Davis, Jr.³

• YouTube: Origins of the Moonwalk (Time 3:43)

What You'll Need

• Basically, you only need two things to learn how to moonwalk: a smooth surface and a pair of socks or smooth-soled shoes. You will also want to make sure you are wearing comfortable clothing. You may also opt to having the song "Billie Jean" playing in the background.

1. It is easiest to learn the moonwalk wearing socks.⁴ However, you could also wear pair of smooth-soled shoes. Avoid shoes like sneakers that have grip.
2. Wood and marble floors are the perfect surface for learning the moonwalk. However, a low-pile carpet can work in a pinch.

Step 1: Starting Position

• Start with both feet together slightly closer than shoulder width apart.⁵

1. Move your right foot back slightly. The toes of your right foot should align with the middle of your left foot.⁶ However, this placement is not strict.
   1. Some will tell you to move your right foot back so it is about a foot behind your left foot.⁷
   2. Others will tell you to start with your right foot slightly in front of your left foot.⁸
2. Lift your right heel so you are standing on the ball of your right foot.
3. Keep your left foot flat.⁹
4. All your weight should be on your right leg.¹⁰
5. Make sure you bend your right knee.⁹

• YouTube: Pantomime Lesson: "How to Moonwalk" (Time: 3:56)

Step 2: Slide the Left Foot

• Slide your left foot back while lowering the heel of your right foot. Your two feet should move at the same speed.⁶

1. Keep your left foot flat and left leg straight.⁹
2. Stop when the toes of your left foot are aligned with the heel of your right foot (although you can move your foot further back).⁶
3. Do not push down on your left foot when sliding (or you will not slide).⁴
4. By the time you finish, your left heel should be slightly off the ground.⁴

• Do not move on to the next step until you can do this one smoothly.⁶

• Howcast: How To Do the Moonwalk (Time: 1:23)

Step 3: Slide the Right Foot

• When you stop the left foot, you will need to do three things simultaneously:

1. Bend your left knee to bring your heel up and place your weight on your left toe.⁹
2. Put your right heel down by straightening your right leg.⁹
3. Slide your right foot back until it is aligned with the middle of your left foot (although you can move your foot further back).

• This is the part that can make or break your moonwalk. The smoother it is the better it will look.⁵

• YouTube: How to Moonwalk (Time: 2:14)

Step 4: Slide the Left Foot Again

• Now it is time to repeat with the other leg. Here are the same directions from the second step with the legs reversed:

1. Bend your right knee to bring your heel up and place your weight on your right toe.⁹
2. Put your left heel down by straightening your left leg.⁹
3. Slide your left foot back until it is aligned with the middle of your right foot (although you can slide your foot further back).

• Expert Village: Moonwalk Dance Demonstration

Step 5: Finishing Touches

• Keep repeating Steps 3 and 4 until you have the moves down. Once you have mastered them, there are a few tips to polish up overall move:

1. When you are starting out, practice without any arm or head movements.¹⁰
2. Gradually add upper body movement as though you were walking forward normally.
3. Keep upper body movements in the same rhythm as the motion in your legs.⁷
4. The right movements will help create the illusion of forward motion as you slide backwards:

• YouTube: How to Moon Walk like Michael Jackson (Time: 2:13)

Additional Moonwalking Videos

• As you practice your moonwalk, it may be helpful to see other people perform it. Here are some additional videos that can provide you with some alternate views on how to moonwalk or provide illustration on how to preform the moonwalk perfectly.

• YouTube: How Michael Jackson Learned the Moonwalk (Time: 5:15)
  • This video gives a great background on the moonwalk as well as demonstrating it. Check out about 2:13 to see Geoffrey Daniels do a very nice, slow moonwalk.

• YouTube: How to Moonwalk (Time: 1:39)
  • Whoever shot this video either needed better lighting or should not have used black shoes against a black background. However, it is still a fairly good close-up of the movements.

• YouTube: How To Moonwalk (Time: 4:54)
  • This video does not have any sound, but does a great job of illustrating Michael Jackson's famous moonwalk in 1983 (at about 3:00).

• VideoDo: How to Moonwalk (Time: 1:27)
  • The sound is not very good on this video, but it does do a nice job of breaking down the movements.

• YouTube: How To Moonwalk (Time: 5:12)
  • A very bad Michael Jackson impersonation combined with an instructor who is way to into himself can make this video hard to watch. However, if you fast forward to about 2:48 it will do a nice job of illustrating the moonwalk.

Conclusion

• Now that you have the moonwalk down, perhaps you want to move on to other breakdancing moves such as a baby freeze, a backspin, the 6-step. Don't forget to check out Mahalo's other how to dance pages such as How to Dance, How to Breakdance, How to Dance in a Nightclub and How to Dance with a Partner.

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References for How to Moonwalk

1. ↑ MSNBC: Did Michael Jackson Invent the Moonwalk?
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} History.com: Michael Jackson "Moonwalks"
3. ↑ YouTube: Origins of the Moonwalk (Time 3:43)
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} The Sun: Learn Moonwalk in Mins (June 6, 2006)
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} Hub Pages: Learn Moonwalk  
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3} All Michael Jackson.com: Michael Jackson Dance Moves Moonwalk Steps to Learn
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} YouTube: How to Moon Walk like Michael Jackson (Time: 2:13)
8. ↑ Howcast: How To Do the Moonwalk (Time: 1:23)
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6} Dancing 102: Today's Style of Dancing: Different Types of Dance Moves
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} Flashmavi: Learn the Moonwalk

How to Moonwalk Videos

• Expert Village Video Series: How to Do the Moonwalk
• YouTube: How Michael Jackson Learned the Moonwalk (Time: 5:15)
• YouTube: How To Moonwalk (Time: 4:54)
• YouTube: How to Moon Walk like Michael Jackson (Time: 2:13)
• YouTube: How to Moonwalk (Time: 2:14)
• YouTube: Pantomime Lesson: "How to Moonwalk" (Time: 3:56)
• YouTube: How To Moonwalk (Time: 5:12)
• Howcast: How To Do the Moonwalk (Time: 1:23)
• Video Jug: How to Moon Walk (Time: 2:14)
• Expert Village: Moonwalk Basics
• VideoDo: How to Moonwalk (Time: 1:27)

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