Aside from Elvis Presley, no other artist has been given so many tributes through impersonation than Michael Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009).
It can be argued that “The King of Pop” is even more famous than “The King“.
From his early days with The Jackson 5 on to his solo career, Michael Jackson single handedly pushed the boundaries of the music industry through his impeccable singing style and his dazzling array of dance moves.
These performers aren’t the first to pay tribute to MJ nor will they be the last.
From amateurs to veteran artists, almost everyone’s had a go with their renditions and tributes to Jackson.
This one was done through the lung busting style of clog and tap dancing. And yes, they are different from each other. Live About gives a perfect explanation:
“Cloggers perform with an up-and-down body motion and tend to make the most sounds with their heels. The movements are typically more flat-footed than tap dancers, which are on the balls of their feet. On the other hand, tap dancers stay light on their feet and tend to dance to the melodies of music, rather than to the beats.”
You’ll spot the differences soon enough.
The dancers start off with a Jackson 5 song, a remix of “ABC“, complete with the afros and bell bottom pants.
It’s a mix of clog dancing with the steps done by the Jackson brothers. Cool, huh?
From the family friendly hit, the dancers transition to MJ’s “Bad“. His 1987 hit directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Wesley Snipes.
Those black leather outfits are directly inspired from the music video. MJ didn’t clog dance though!
Wait, what’s that familiar drum beat? Could it be that she’s not your lover?
A male dancer ushers in a group of ladies and together they tap and twirl to what is perhaps Michael’s most beloved hit, “Billie Jean”.
Now this performance just keeps getting better. For every transition and switch, the tempo increases and the energy builds even more. The remix brings the dancers to another well known MJ song. “Black or White” was released in 1991 and is about racial harmony. Take a hint from Michael.
But what’s even more amazing to see is the blur of sensational footwork.
They worked hard for this. It clearly shows.
No one ever misses a step, no one ever gets ahead or lags behind. And when you’re dancing to Michael Jackson, it has to be perfect.
And when they get to that iconic line from the chorus, two guys step in front covering the girls in black with a black cloth.
And once MJ says “It don’t matter if you’re black or white“, the fabric drops revealing the dancers in white outfits.
Brilliant execution! Listen to the audience cheer!
The rest of the dancers fall in. The stage is now complete with 25 dancers all dressed in either black or white.
A flurry of tap and clog ensues perfectly paired with MJ’s “I am tired of this devil. I am tired of this stuff. I am tired of this business.”
An explosion of energy fills the stage as they dance and circle the area before showing off a few flips. True to MJ’s style, Sole Patrol and Tap Attack deliver a stunning finale.
One that The King of Pop would have loved.
Watch this incredible tribute dance below!
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