King of Pop moonwalkers compete
Print Edition
A Michael Jackson dance competition Sunday draws fans from around China to watch MJ imitators strut their best moonwalks, robots, toe stands, anti-gravity leans and Egyptian flares. Zhang Qian talks to dance fans.
Michael Jackson fans will imitate his legendary moves — moonwalk to the robot — in a dance competition on Sunday, to commemorate the King of Pop who died four years ago.
The event also marks the anniversary this month of Jackson’s birth, August 29, 1958.
Around 20 fans, ranging in age from 11 to 36, have registered for the competition at Windows Too of Jiuguang Department Store on Nanjing Road W., starting at noon.
French choreographer Michael Sumana and overseas MJ imitators will perform as guest dancers.
The Chinese winner will receive a certificate and VIP tickets for Sunday night’s “Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour” presented by the Cirque du Soleil at Shanghai Mercedes-Benz Arena.
Jackson, who was preparing for a comeback, died of an overdose on June 25, 2009, at the age of 51.
Fans around the world keep his music alive, including those in China, and many from around China are expected to watch the competition Sunday and share their memories of MJ. Expats also come for the show.
The contest Sunday is the third MJ dance competition organized by MJJCLUB since 2011.
The participants present their best MJ imitations, judged by professional choreographers and previous MJ dance competition winners. Favorite pieces are “Billie Jean,” “Dangerous” and “Smooth Criminal.”
Fans can expect to see the super moonwalk, the anti-gravity lean, toe stand, Egyptian flare, the robot and other moves. Probably not the famous crotch grab.
The annual competition arose from the fan club’s aim to commemorate the King of Pop and the number of contestants keeps rising, according to Michael Chan, the organizer of the competition.
Participants include a wide range of fans, including students, office workers, professionals and professional dancers.
“All the participants communicate well and enjoy the competitions regardless of their differences,” says Chan, “MJ’s work and spirit can cross the boundaries of nations and races, genders and religions, with billions of people drawn to his music and dance.”
Faruk, a 20-year-old railway worker from the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is a veteran at the competition. He first heard Jackson long ago on a tape recorder that belonged to an uncle.
“There was magic in the music that drove me to move my body along with it, even though I was just five or six years old and knew nothing about dance,” says Faruk.
When he became a teenager, he started to train himself. “I played MJ’s music videos online and on DVD and tried hard to copy every movement,” says Faruk. “It was hard but I made it.”
Michael Jackson didn’t enter the world of 12-year-old Zhang Ziheng from Jiangsu Province until his death was broadcast worldwide in 2009.
“Videos of his music and dance were broadcast on many TV channels. It caught my eye and I was hooked. I like that special dance style.” Zhang took classes in jazz, hip-hop and Latin dance, while imitating Jackson in his spare time.
“I want to be a superstar like MJ, with all that energy on stage,” says Zhang. “I knew that I needed to work hard.”
He looks forward to learning at Sunday’s competition from many more experienced imitators from around China.
The MJJCLUB was founded in 2003 and has more than 200 members in Shanghai and others across the country. It holds regular meetings and parties.
The national Michael Jackson fan club helps fans everywhere communicate.
“I was all by myself watching videos before 2010 when I accidentally got connected with another MJ fan online,” says Faruk. “I was thrilled. It was like finding my family, since I could finally have someone to talk to about the moves and music, though we cannot meet face to face.”
He got in touch with more fans and later an MJ fan club was formed in Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang. He has taken part in various MJ programs including “flash mob” activities since then.
He missed the Shanghai dance competition last year and this year save up his annual leave to join the Shanghai event.
“I will try my best to win a good ranking, otherwise, I will feel embarrassed when I return home,” says Faruk.
“After all, I am representing them for the show.”
Date: August 18, 12-3pmVenue: Windows Too, 2/F Jiuguang Department Store
Address: 1619 Nanjing Rd W.
Tickets: 100 yuan (covers drinks)
Tel: 150-0028-2066
Website: Mjjclub.com
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