Jeffrey Daniel, renowned dancer and member of Shalamar, revealed on Channels TV how he first introduced Michael Jackson to the famous moonwalk.
A pioneer of pop dance, Daniel popularised the backslide, a move that later became Jackson’s signature moonwalk, bringing it into the mainstream.
Before joining Shalamar, Daniel formed the dance group Eclipse, which showcased his unique choreography on shows such as Soul Train.
Jackson first noticed him in 1979 while he performed the backslide with Eclipse on Soul Train. “Michael saw me doing the backslide in ’79,” Daniel recalled.
First Meeting With Jackson
In 1980, Jackson attended one of their shows at Disneyland. “He brought little Janet Jackson, and they stood in the wing watching us dance. Then he asked me to teach him,” Daniel said.
Over the next two decades, Daniel worked closely with Jackson. He choreographed videos such as Beat It and Smooth Criminal, joined him in Brazil for They Don’t Care About Us, and contributed to Ghosts.
“My last job in America was at MJJ Music, his record company, as A&R and creative consultant,” he explained.
Family Connection Discovered
Daniel later learned he and Jackson were cousins, a fact unknown during their years of collaboration. “In 2008, my father showed me my family tree, and I found out I’m Michael’s cousin,” he revealed.
Since then, he often refers to Jermaine, Janet, Randy, and Rebe Jackson as cousins. “All the years we worked together, I never knew,” Daniel added.
Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, revolutionised music and dance with groundbreaking performances and record-shattering albums like Thriller.
Daniel’s choreography played a vital role in shaping the visual and artistic impact of Jackson’s shows and music videos.
