8

Is there an evidence that this famous Michael Jackson dance move is inspired by the movie The Wizard of Oz (1939)? With evidence I mean an interview or something like that.

In The Wizard of Oz there is a scene in which the Tin Man is dancing. You can rewatch it in this video:

Michael Jackson Dance Move Scene from Wizard of Oz

Improve this question
3
  • 4
    I wouldn't be surprised if MJ was actually inspired by Charlie Chaplin, who did "The Lean" in A Day's Pleasure (1919). - MJ was known to be a big fan of Charlie Chaplin.
    – Oliver_C
    Sep 1, 2014 at 20:07
  • Now for me it sounds more convincing that the dance move is inspired by Charlie Chaplin, too! Maybe there is an even better proof for that.
    – Charmin
    Sep 1, 2014 at 20:17
  • @Oliver_C: I'd add that as an answer to be honest. There's a fair amount of evidence to show Chaplin was one of his biggest influences (with his attire in the video all a tribute to Fred Astaire)
    – Andrew Martin
    Nov 25, 2014 at 21:23

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3

"The lean" goes back to circus performers in the late 19th century, for instance Harry "Little Titch" Relph.

Le Lean n'est pas né dans le clip de Smooth Criminal mais dans les cirques de la fin du 19ème siècle, peut-être même avant. L'un des plus anciens numéros de lean connus était pratiqué par un artiste du nom de Harry Relph, plus connu sous le pseudonyme de "Little Tich". C'était un comique de music-hall qui incarnait une multitude de personnages et était célèbre pour sa "Big Boot Dance", une chorégraphie faisant appel à une paire de chaussures de 70 cm de long... Cette danse a même donné lieu à un film de 1900 signé Clément Maurice, "Little Tich et ses Big Boots", dont Jacques Tati dira : "c'est la base de tout ce qui a été réalisé à l'écran en matière de comédie". Lorsqu'il s'est retiré de la scène, Harry Relph a fait don de ses chaussures à Sacha Guitry.

Paraphrased:

The Lean was born in the circuses at the end of the 19th century, possibly even earlier. One of its earliest known performers was Harry Relph, aka "Little Tich", a music hall comedian known for his "Big Boots Dance" with 70cm long shoes. This act is the source of the 1900 movie by Clément Maurice, "Little Tich and his Big Boots", of which Jacques Tati claims "this is the start of comedy cinema." After Relph's retirement, Sacha Guitry inherited the shoes.

Buster Keaton also performed it.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    You might want to translate or at least paraphrase that quote there. Otherwise you don't need to quote it at all and could just let it remain as a link.
    – Napoleon Wilson ♦
    Mar 12, 2015 at 15:10

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .