Once in a while, a legend is born among us that has the power to touch the heart of millions of people. As Elvis Presley was the King of Rock’n’Roll, Michael Jackson was the King of Pop. The truth of the matter is that these two legends were more than just Kings of a certain style of music. They inspired people to create beautiful things. They were entertainers, artists, dancers and they changed history.
Here, we’ll focus on how Michael Jackson put his footprint ( no pun intended 🙂 ) on ballroom dancing, and especially on latin dancers.
Michael Jackson – An Inspiration For Champions
We know by now that Michael Jackson inspired many R&B and Pop singers, but we have to be aware of the fact that he was also a divine dancer and one of a kind, at that. Many dancers even started their career because they wanted to dance like Michael Jackson. Let’s discover together what did dancesport champions “stole” from him!
Donnie Burns – the technique
Donnie Burns MBE, one of the greatest champions of our beautiful dancesport world! He inspired so many dancers and is one of the most sought-after teachers at the moment.
Ok, but who inspired Donnie then? Well, besides his teacher – the great Walter Laird – Michael Jackson definitely had an impact on his artistry. Being a perfectionist, Donnie would analyze Michael’s movements.
He introduced Michael Jackson’s style of spins. Also, you can see his influence on the way Donnie did his lines, footwork and arm movements. And obviously, let’s not forget the attire. Here, have a look and see if you spot Michael Jackson’s influence: