Who did the moonwalk first? This question has intrigued fans of the iconic dance move for decades. The moonwalk, a backward, sliding dance step, became famous after it was performed by Michael Jackson during his performance at the Motown 25: A Celebration of Soul Music in 1983. However, the origins of the moonwalk are shrouded in mystery and debate, with several dancers claiming to have performed a similar move before Jackson made it famous. This article delves into the history of the moonwalk and explores the various claims regarding who truly deserves the title of the first moonwalker.
The debate over the first moonwalk began in the early 1980s, when Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” music video was released. In the video, Jackson performs the moonwalk, leaving viewers in awe of his gravity-defying dance moves. As a result, many fans began to wonder who else had performed a similar move before him. One of the most notable claims comes from Donnie Iris, a rock singer who performed a similar move in his 1981 music video for the song “Ah! Leah.”
Donnie Iris claims that he was the first to perform the moonwalk, having developed the move in the late 1970s. Iris’s version of the move was slightly different from Jackson’s, as he did not include the backward sliding motion. Instead, Iris would simply pivot on his heel while walking backward. Despite his claim, Iris’s version of the moonwalk did not gain the same level of fame as Jackson’s.
Another dancer who claims to have performed a similar move is James Brown’s backup dancer, Little Richard. In a 1983 interview, Little Richard stated that he had been performing a version of the moonwalk since the early 1970s. According to Little Richard, he would slide backward while dancing, much like Michael Jackson’s moonwalk. However, there is little to no video evidence to support his claim, and the move is not widely recognized as a moonwalk.
The mystery of the first moonwalk is further complicated by the fact that there were other dancers who performed similar moves before Jackson. One such dancer is Gene Kelly, who performed a sliding backward step in his 1946 film “Anchors Aweigh.” Although this move is not exactly the same as the moonwalk, it does share some similarities, such as the backward sliding motion.
Ultimately, the true identity of the first moonwalker may never be known. While Michael Jackson is widely credited with popularizing the move, there are several dancers who claim to have performed a similar move before him. The moonwalk’s origins remain a topic of debate and speculation, but one thing is certain: the dance move has left an indelible mark on pop culture and has inspired countless dancers to push the boundaries of their own artistry.
