Friday, February 26, 2010

The Late Great Michael Jackson And The Hip Hop Generation

When looking at the connection between the Black Arts Movement and the Hip Hop Movement in dance, it is pretty apparent that one man merged the gap between the two, Michael Jackson. Though Michael himself would not be considered a part of the Hip Hop movement, he inspired many of the dancers we now know as the Hip Hop greats. One of the moves that led to Jackson's extreme influence is the moonwalk. (If you've never seen the move before, it takes place at 3:51.) Jackson brought great attention to this move on March 25, 1983 during a performance of "Billie Jean" on Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever. It took Jackson two seconds to complete the move, however its impact will live on forever in the dance world. Michael was taking moves from the streets and including them in his videos and performances to embrace the culture from which he came. I would personally recommend you check out these videos to see Jackson's killer moves: "Billie Jean," "Thriller," and "The Way You Make Me Feel." Just remember anytime you watch a show like America's Best Dance Crew, Michael Jackson brought street dancing to the mainstream.

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