THE MOONWALK

On March 25, 1983, during the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television special, Michael Jackson unveiled a dance move that would become synonymous with his name forever—the moonwalk. Performing "Billie Jean" in his soon-to-be-signature look of a black sequined jacket, single gloved hand, and white socks with black loafers, Jackson glided backwards across the stage as if defying the laws of physics.

The audience's reaction was electric. Diana Ross later recalled gasping audibly. Fred Astaire called Jackson the next morning to congratulate him, saying he was "one hell of a mover." While Jackson didn't invent the move (it had roots in mime and earlier street dance), he perfected it and made it his own. The glide lasted only about five seconds, but those five seconds changed pop culture forever.

What made the moment even more remarkable was that Jackson almost didn't perform it. He had been rehearsing the move in his kitchen for weeks, learning from street dancers like Jeffrey Daniel. Just before going on stage, he told his mother Katherine he was nervous about debuting it. She encouraged him to take the risk. The broadcast reached 47 million viewers, and by the next day, everyone in America was trying to moonwalk. The performance is consistently ranked among the greatest live TV moments in history.