Shibani Kashyap’s Thriller is a tribute to the original song
New Generation, same old magic: Michael Jackson’s legacy endures Shibani Kashyap’s Thriller is a tribute to the original song New Generation, same old magic: Michael Jackson’s legacy endures Shibani Kashyap’s Thriller is a tribute to the original song
On August 29, as the world marks what would have been Michael Jackson’s 68th birthday, a new generation continues to discover his work. His work continues to fascinate dancers who have no memory of the era in which he became a superstar. More than a singer, a complete performer At Brian’s Academy of Dance, choreographer Brian Fernandes sees a particularly strong interest in MJ among students aged 10 to 13. Michael Jackson left the world in 2009. On August 29, we are not only celebrating the birth anniversary of a legend who once ruled the world.
Because they were never merely difficult steps, dancer Bhumi Maurya, who specialises in Jackson’s choreography, believes his movements remain compelling. Because people are trying to freeze it in time, but because they keep reinterpreting it, his work lives not.
“His movements… made it look surreal, like an illusion,” says dancer Akshay Pal about his first impression of Michael Jackson. He changed the way pop stars moved, dressed, performed and told stories. “I always make sure that if I am dancing and getting inspired by MJ, I am also going to keep the part of me that made me who I am,” he says. “Michael Jackson was primarily a singer, but dancing was like the cherry on top,” Jaaferi says. “Mastering Michael Jackson’s style requires considerably more than learning a few signature moves,” Brian says. “It was his musicality, precision, expressions and the emotion behind every movement,” she says. “That’s when imitation becomes personal expression,” Bhumi says. “They don’t just see him as a star from the past, they see him as an artist whose technique still feels modern,” Chaitanya says. But I can try to emulate and go as close as I can in my own way,” she says.
As a schoolboy, he saw someone perform the Moonwalk at a school function. He did not know how it was done, but he knew he wanted to learn it. Soon, he was practising wherever he could. In school halls, at train stations and anywhere with enough space. The Moonwalk became his entry point into MJ’s world. It is fitting that Jackson’s legacy can still begin with a dance move. Though he was one of the biggest-selling recording artists in history, his influence extended far beyond music. His videos became cinema, his concerts became festivals and his choreography became a language of its own. Many of these young fans were not born when he was at his peak, or even when he died. Yet they continue to recreate his movements, study his performances and find inspiration in an artist they know largely through screens. Dancer Akshay Pal, first indian dancer to be featured on Michael Jackson’s social media handleCredits – Akshay Pal For Akshay, that journey came full circle when he became the first Indian artist to be featured on Michael Jackson’s official social media handle. But MJ gave him more than jsut steps to copy. For him, MJ’s greatest lesson was to build an identity from one’s art rather than disappear into someone else’s. Michael understood that principle himself. He drew inspiration from performers such as James Brown, Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, but transformed those influences into something of his own. For actor-dancer Jaaved Jaaferi, who shared a stage with him during an event in New York, that ability to create an entire world around a performance made him extraordinary. Jackson understood that a performance required more than a song. Music, movement, costumes, staging, visuals and storytelling all became part of the experience. That approach changed pop culture. In MJ’s hands, the music video became a short film, a song became a narrative and a dance move became a global phenomenon. For them, the entry point is often the spectacle of the Moonwalk, glides, spins, isolations and seemingly impossible illusions. But as they learn, they begin to understand the discipline beneath the magic. Rhythm, timing, body control, musical interpretation and stage presence are all essential. Even the Moonwalk depends on precise weight transfer and control. Younger dancers may begin by copying MJ, but many eventually adapt parts of his vocabulary into contemporary, hip-hop or freestyle choreography. YouTube, Instagram, TikTok and dance platforms have made his performances instantly accessible. Yet Jackson does not necessarily feel like an artist from another era. His influence extends beyond dance. Singer Shibani Kashyap, who grew up listening to MK, recently covered his iconic song Thriller. For her, the song represents the combination of melody, story, acting, dance and visual imagination that made him unique. Her version is a tribute, not an attempt to reproduce the original. “I can’t sound like Michael Jackson, obviously not. My voice is different. Shibani Kashyap’s Thriller is a tribute to the original song That may be the best way to understand Jackson’s continuing influence. Every generation, every culture, every specialisation adds something new to what is already ageless. A young dancer learns the Moonwalk. A choreographer studies his musicality. A singer recreates Thriller. Children who know MJ through YouTube learn his technique. Others combine his influence with entirely different styles. His music has also reached younger audiences through cinema. The recent biopic Michael, starring his nephew Jaafar Jackson, has renewed interest in his life and performances. Across India, tributes continue to appear in new forms, including Kerala choreographer Swetha Warrier’s viral fusion of Bharatanatyam and Michael Jackson’s The Way You Make Me Feel moves. teaching MJ’s moves at dance academies These are not simply acts of nostalgia. The generations that saw him at his peak remember the phenomenon. Those who came later discovered him through parents, television and the internet. The youngest generation can search for him, watch the Moonwalk within seconds and attempt it themselves. They may never have waited for MJ to appear on a stadium stage. But they can still press play. And when the beat begins, they move. But the music and the magic he created never really left us. We are celebrating an artist whose world is still being discovered. Looking for trusted parenting advice? Follow TOI Parenting Circle on Instagram for expert guidance, relatable stories, and practical tips delivered every day.
Unlike earlier generations, they do not have to wait for a music channel to play a video or borrow a VHS. A new generation learns the language Chaitanya Pancholi, another dancerspecialising in MJ’s style, sees a similar shift among dancers discovering Jackson today. They show that MJ’s artistic vocabulary has shaped the pop culture we know and enjoy today.
