How to Dance Like Michael Jackson: Nail Your Shoes to the Floor
It’s half a day until Memorial Day weekend, so we’re writing research studies on pop culture phenomena! In themusic video for Smooth Criminal, Michael Jackson and four dancer stunt doubles used cables and straps to lean a full 45 degrees, a movement that is physically impossible for an unsupported human body. But somehow Jackson also performed this dance move live on stage without any visible backing. It turned out that Michael Jackson not only developed impressive body strength, but also nailed his shoes to the floor.
As explained in a recent scientific article , Jackson used apatented modification to the shoe by cutting a slot in the sole of his shoe. (According to the patent, the shoes were also taller than they looked, with an artificial toe cap covering part of their ankle support.) The scene was set up with subtly protruding nails. Jackson wore slit-to-nail shoes, locking him into the floor so he could move his center of balance forward.
The patent-pending shoe has long been no secret, but this research paper, published in the Journal of Neurosurgery in the context of treating dance-related “injuries that can confuse neurosurgeons,” has generated some interest.
The newspaper said that even with the added support of being nailed to the floor, Jackson still had to use all his strength as he bent down, contracting his Achilles tendon to stay straight with the ramrod. So if you want to do this dance move, you need a prepared stage and dance skills. Maybe try learning the moonwalk instead. Here’san old but self-explanatory video guide to this more attainable dance move.
You can see the deep tilt in the music video below, starting at 7:04 am. But as we mentioned, this example was achieved with the use of waist belts and not with Jackson’s special shoes.