Jeffrey Daniel, legendary dancer and member of the iconic group Shalamar, has revealed fresh details about how he introduced Michael Jackson to the move that would later define an era — the moonwalk. Speaking in a recent interview on Channels TV, Daniel explained that what the world knows today as Jackson’s moonwalk actually began as the “backslide,” a move he performed on the classic show Soul Train in 1979.
According to Daniel, Michael Jackson first noticed him when he was dancing with his group Eclipse. The King of Pop was fascinated by the smooth gliding move and wanted to learn it. In 1980, Jackson invited Daniel to Disneyland, where he came with a young Janet Jackson to watch the dancer perform. After the show, Michael asked him to teach him the backslide. That teaching moment would go on to create the foundation for one of the most famous dance moves in history.
Daniel went on to collaborate with Jackson for more than two decades. He worked on choreography for timeless hits like Beat It and Smooth Criminal, travelled with him to Brazil for They Don’t Care About Us, and also contributed to Ghosts. Beyond dancing, he even served as A&R and creative consultant at Jackson’s record company, MJJ Music.
In a surprising twist, Daniel also revealed that he and Jackson were actually cousins — something neither knew during their years of working together. He discovered the family connection only in 2008 after seeing his family tree. Since then, he has embraced the bond with members of the Jackson family, including Jermaine, Janet, Randy, and Rebbie.
Michael Jackson, remembered as the King of Pop, revolutionised music and dance with groundbreaking albums like Thriller, still the best-selling album of all time. Yet, behind some of his most iconic moves stood Jeffrey Daniel, the dancer who helped shape pop culture history with one unforgettable glide.
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