MICHAEL JACKSON: THE SECRET BEHIND “GRAVITY FALL” MOVE

THE SECRET BEHIND MICHAEL JACKSON’S “GRAVITY FALL” MOVE

For decades viewers have watched Michael Jackson’s “Gravity Fall” leaning dance move in awe. The “biomechanically impossible” act (which Jackson debuted in 1987) has the dancer leaning at a remarkable 45-degree angle—from the ankle—all the while keeping his body straight. No bending at the knees, nor the hips, it was (and remains) a beguiling sight. Unveiling the magic, however, neurosurgeons at Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh say Jackson made it possible thanks to his immense core strength and some fancy shoes. “A V-shaped slit in the bottom of each heel of his spats slotted onto a strong nail or ‘hitch member’ driven into the ground, allowing the dancer to pivot and lean further forward, for the gravity-defying move.”

 

According to reports, Michael and his team created a one-off shoe with an extending slot at the bottom of the heel.

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The slots could then extend at any given time and connect to a peg in the stage, keeping the shoe secure as Michael leaned forwards - supporting his own body as he did it.



These shoes were patented in 1992 under the names of Michael Jackson and Dennis Tompkins.

While the shoes almost always worked perfectly, there was one slip in September 1996 when, during a concert in Moscow, one of the heels came loose from its peg.

 

Michael went flying but luckily managed to avoid serious injury - and the design was reportedly later reworked to avoid it happening again.

That shoe is now in the Moscow branch of the Hard Rock Cafe, after being auctioned off following Jackson's death for $600,000.