Michael Jackson is regarded by the public as an inviolable icon with achievements that are incredibly difficult for any artist to reach. His albums have redefined the success standard for pop music, and he won 8 Grammy Awards in one night. Even though he has been gone for a long time, Michael Jackson’s immense contributions to global music remain deeply embedded in the hearts of his fans. People still cannot forget his legendary dance where he leans at a 45-degree angle while maintaining his balance. The mysteries surrounding this dance continue to be a topic of discussion among the public during every memorial of the late musician.
A YouTube channel specializing in uploading videos about guides, history, and social knowledge called Bright Side recently posted a video decoding this secret. Accordingly, Michael Jackson’s 45-degree lean dance is actually not a magic trick or a high-level skill of the artist but simply thanks to… a prop.
This prop is a pair of shoes called “Anti-gravity.” The sole is equipped with a layer of magnets, along with a V-shaped groove. Whenever Michael and his collaborators moved on stage, they had to pay attention to approach areas with pre-installed pegs. From there, users would adjust to ensure the shoes stuck firmly to the floor. According to many official sources, Michael Jackson, with the help of two others, invented this type of shoe. The patent was granted to them in 1993. It is known that these shoes were inspired by astronauts, who use similar shoes to function and work in zero-gravity conditions.
Michael Jackson is just like other ordinary people, but his performances still captivate many due to his creativity and ability to apply that creativity.
For those working in the medical field, especially orthopedic surgery, having someone lean at a 45-degree angle is abnormal, to put it bluntly, impossible. Therefore, even with the help of “anti-gravity” shoes, dancers still need to have a solid technical foundation to perform the move as smoothly as possible. There have been many cases of fans of the King of Pop trying it out only to fail and injure their ankles. Consequently, many doctors have advised Michael Jackson’s fans not to imitate their idol to avoid unnecessary injuries.