Origin of the Backslide/Moonwalk | 1930-1983

A famous dance move made popular by Michael Jackson, the "Backslide", now more commonly know as the "Moonwalk", (and not to be confused with the stationary "Airwalk"), can be traced back as far as the early Jazz age on film.

Earliest film footage known appears to be in the 1930s of a demonstration of the "Cake Walk" dance (originating in the late 1800s-early 1900s, possibly suggesting the Backside goes as far back as the 1900s, if it was not added to the dance from the Jazz styles of the time). The move (as well as the dancing styles) have been passed down through generations of entertainers to the modern day. From cultural dance, to early stage performers and street dancers.

[courylanders]

There's a old saying " There's nothing new under the sun." Remember that young ppl.

[RABS]

did anyone find it ironic that the eclipse did the moonwalk 4 year before MJ but danced it to a MJ song

[LeafsKiller]

Some of the earlier ones were rough but Jeffrey Daniel's was perfection especially the part with the dog.

[annieo]

All those dancers of times gone by are spectacular. Such a pleasure to watch.

I think I just don't like it when people try to imply that Michael ever tried to lay claim to the move. He just did it. He was inspired by all dancers.
Having said that...he brought it to life so perfectly for a generation that had never seen it.

[marsallefrancisco]

Thank you for putting this video out.This is why, history is so important.

[bluebutterflywellness]

Jeff Daniels had that isht on lockdown! 👍🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[jasminemartinez]

Michael was inspired by these dancers to create his own twist and spin off of these dances

[najingjamajhao]

Many great dancers set foot on earth like Bill Bailey, Boogaloo Dan, Daniel Jefrey . Many people think moonwalk was started by MJ. Learnt from this post .Thank you .

[JonDeth]

*The saying is, "good artists borrow, great artists steal" is basically misunderstood by everyone. It means when a great artist replicates what someone else has already done, they're able to represent it in such a way that all those watching believe they invented it.*

[Juiceleessj]

cool to find some more current clips of the backslide in the 70s

[no]

This is why presentation is so important! They did a lot of MJ’s moves long before he did. Difference was in is attire and how he presented it. All these old dancers wore the same clothes that was just the fashion at the time that would naturally become outdated and forgotten after a while. MJ picked something that was unique yet timeless with black and white attire and the one of a kind black fedora. And then on top of that dancing in a spotlight! Of course the music counts too. But the moves including the moonwalk looked more impressive because of the overall presentation. Not to mention calling it the ‘moonwalk’ and not some unimaginative name like ‘backslide’ sounded much cooler and was always going to catch on like wildfire. For me MJ was a genius for his marketing skills and that’s what shot him to mega stardom!

[JesusisLvfds]

The first time Michael saw someone do the backslide was in a show in Las Vegas a Cher show one of the dancers Damita Joe Freeman who was a Soul Train dancer was on the show and did it. Michael went backstage to ask her to teach him ..she saw it on a PBS special from old B&W footage...then Jeffrey Daniel showed him.

[zay]

Some of yall are crazy...I know Mike is a Legend but nobody can do that dance like JD. His is killing everybody's.

[DangerousMongoose]

Eclipse gets the credit for best representation of the dance move, and performing it in a way nobody really has on screen. The foot flow and friction to the floor was near perfect during leg transitioning. Literal best representation of what the move actually is, and how it can be manipulated into any direction with practice.

[mindfield]

Michael always told that he was very much inspired by people like James Brown, Fred Astare and black kids dancing in the streets and that all of them teached him how to dance. Michael was able to combine all the elements with his songwriting, singing and dancing. He made all the dancing his own and perfected it. While doing his moonwalk Michael moves his shoulders as well unlike the other dancers, it makes the illusion hoger.

[DaSkarekrow]

love seeing the origin....I was about 7 years old when Motown 25 happen.... the point of this is that it was a time where there was only 30 to 40 channel on cable at best....most could only get the local channels (CBS/ABC/NBC) and that was it.... so when MJ did the moonwalk, it was fkn amazing because MOST people didn't know about the backslide... So while MJ was influence by other dancers, he popularized it and took it to another stratosphere ...thus the Moonwalk was born

[jamontaco]

Thanks for calling it the Backslide!!!
That is what we called at back in 1979
Also pantomimes in France were doing this move for many years as early as the 1940s

[niclu]

Thank you for sharing this!!! So so neat to see the history behind it!!! These dancers were so so soooo smooth. Dare I say it... even smoother than MJ!!!

[stephanirblack]

I have missed these oldies but goodies ❣

[drakon]

Very interesting to see all the old film footage where the dance move came from.