Moonwalk (dance) and Wind Point Light: Difference between pages

Revision as of 18:34, 31 March 2007

Revision as of 17:48, 17 July 2007

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{{Infobox_Lighthouse

The '''moonwalk''' or '''backslide''' is a [[dance]] move that gained widespread popularity after being performed by [[Michael Jackson]] on the [[1983]] television special ''[[Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever]]'', and has since become his signature move. The purpose of the moonwalk is to give the illusion that the dancer is walking forward while mysteriously moving backward.

| image_name = WindPoint.jpg

| caption = Wind Point Lighthouse

| ___location = Racine, Wisconsin

| coordinates = {{coor dms|42|46|52|N|87|45|30.2|W|region:US_type:landmark}}

| yearlit =

| automated =

| yeardeactivated =

| foundation =

| construction =

| shape =

| height = 112 feet

| lens = DCB-24R Aerobeacon

| range = 19 miles

| characteristic =

}}

'''Wind Point Lighthouse''' is an active aid to navigation located at the north end of [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]] Harbor in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. Designed by [[Orlando Poe|Orlando Metcalfe Poe,]] it was constructed in 1880.

It is one of the oldest active [[lighthouse]]s on the [[Great Lakes]]. The beacon, originally powered by third order [[fresnel lens]], was replaced by a DCB-24R Aerobeacon in 1964. The light can be seen for 19 miles.

Although when most people think of the moonwalk they think of the signature Michael Jackson move, it was first popularized by [[James Brown]], and the back-sliding move James Brown and Michael Jackson did is not the official moonwalk. What they both do is actually a backslide.

The lighthouse stands 112 feet tall. It is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (Reference #84003780).

The correct Moonwalk as it is known in dance is actually a 4 corner illusion dance, which makes it seem as if you are sliding around in a square shape on the floor.

Located on Lighthouse Road, next to the Shoop Park golf course, it is set on a sprawling lawn overlooking Racine Harbor. A signal house (horns removed) remains on the grounds as well as a garage, 2 storage buildings and an oil house. The Wind Point Police maintain offices in the attached building.

The move is a part of [[floating, gliding and sliding]], a set of techniques and styles closely related to [[popping (dance)|popping]]. Although he did not invent its mechanics and has never claimed to have done so, Michael Jackson came up with the name "moonwalk" and made it one of the most recognizable dance moves in history.

==Origin==

The move is based on a classic [[Jean-Louis Barrault]] [[pantomime]] exercise "Walking" (as featured in the 1945 film ''[[Children of Paradise]]'') with some of the ''Pantomimes de Style'' technique ''Marche Contre Le Vent'' ("Walk against the wind", developed by [[Marcel Marceau]] in the 1950s) thrown in. When laypersons think of the moonwalk they almost exclusively think of the signature Michael Jackson move. The actual inventor, Solid Gold dancer "Cooley Jackson", taught Michael Jackson the moonwalk. This was evident at the extraordinary [[Motown]] 25 Concert, where he debuted it during his famous "Billie Jean" routine, in which the crowd was on their feet cheering.

Backslides have been performed on numerous earlier occasions, recorded as early as 1955 ending a performance by tap dancer [[Bill Bailey (dancer)|Bill Bailey]]. Prior to Jackson, [[Jeffrey Daniel]] was "moonwalking" in a performance of [[Shalamar]]'s "A Night To Remember" on [[Top of the Pops]] in 1982.

==External linksLinks ==

[[Cab Calloway]] was performing a type of backsliding in the early days of his career. The earliest film record of this is from the 1932 Talkartoon ''Minnie The Moocher'', an animated [[Betty Boop]] cartoon that features a live action sequence of Cab Calloway and his band. In this sequence we can see Cab Calloway dance in a style that clearly predates moonwalking, popping and [[electric boogaloo]].

* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=242 Lighthouse Friends]

* [http://www.lighthouseratings.com/WindPoint/ Lighthouse Ratings]

==Nature==

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/windpt.htm NPS Inventory of Historic Light Stations]

The [[Central America|Central-]] and [[South America|South-American]] bird the [[Manakin]] has a courtship display resembling the Moonwalk.

{{Wisconsin-struct-stub}}

[[Category:Lighthouses in Wisconsin]]

==External links==

[[Category:PoppingRacine, (dance)Wisconsin]]

{{wikibooks|How to Moonwalk}}

The tower is 108 feet tall with a 111 foot focal plane.

*[http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/dance-moves.html How to moonwalk]

*[http://www.flashmavi.com/breakdance_moonwalk.shtml Animated Instruction]

*http://www.compfused.com/directlink/525/

*The Max Fleischer ''[http://www.archive.org/details/bb_minnie_the_moocher Minnie the Moocher]'' cartoon, at the [[Internet Archive]].

[[Category:Popping (dance)]]

[[Category:Funk dance]]

[[Category:Michael Jackson]]

[[Category:Walking]]

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