News
ENLARGE
On Wednesday night during a Lake Tahoe Community College performance, in front of a packed Duke Theatre, dance instructor Cooley Jaxson and 17 of his students performed a history of dance, from the 1930s to present.
But it wasn't until Michael Jackson's “Beat It” came on that his students and the family and friends who came to see the end-of-quarter recital became energized, with cheers and finally a standing ovation.
“I don't care who you are, there's something about Michael Jackson's music that does something to you. The energy motivates,” Jaxson said Thursday after learning the “King of Pop” died of cardiac arrest at the age of 50 in Los Angeles.
The death of Michael Jackson stirred many emotions and memories for Jaxson, a professional dance instructor who lives in South Lake Tahoe.
Jaxson was a friend of Michael Jackson, though the men only met up and engaged in conversation a handful of times, the last one being on the set of Jackson's “Smooth Criminal” video.
But each time was memorable because of the amount of respect that was paid to one another. History was made and Jaxson was a part of it. It was in 1983 that Jackson summoned the then 19-year-old fledgling professional dancer to a Southern California warehouse to teach him a move called the “backslide,” Jaxson said, though Jackson never publicly confirmed it. After learning it from Jaxson, the pop superstar renamed it the “moonwalk” and an iconic move was forever etched in pop culture.
Until recently, Jaxson had hoped to be booked as part of a dance crew for Jackson's planned summer tour, which was cut short when he fell ill. Jaxson was hopeful. He had inquired with MJJ Productions about being a part of the tour, and was told that he would be considered.
But when Jackson fell ill and was out of the public spotlight for more than a month, Jaxson thought something wasn't right.
“I had a feeling something was wrong because generally you hear back with either a ‘yes' or a ‘no' or a ‘maybe,'” Jaxson said. “I hadn't heard anything and it got me wondering.”
Jaxson compared the loss of Michael Jackson to that of Elvis, calling them “timeless legends” who died too young.
“I lost a friend and I can't believe it,” Jaxson said. “As the smoke clears, no matter what people said about him, he is still a person, had a genuine heart for people and for children.”
Jaxson watched as the pop star struggled with accusations and trials involving molestation charges, and it saddened him because he didn't believe Jackson was capable of hurting children.
“Let me be clear, people were constantly at him wanting money. They threatened him. They threatened his life. They sued him. They extorted from him. I am not surprised that he may have died of a heart attack. Because if you have this constant stress in your life, it kills you.”
What made Michael Jackson the eccentric man-child he was is something for pop-psychologists to examine. But Jaxson says it likely had to do with gaining fame as a singer and dancer from early childhood.
“Michael did not grow up like me. He never had the street knowledge, so when you're not from the streets your mentality is different,” Jaxson said. “He was very trusting. From his childhood he grew up, very sensitive, pampered, and he was always taken care of. That left his heart wide open.”
Jaxson was among a handful of break dance pioneers. He was a regular on early 80s TV shows “Soul Train” and “Solid Gold.”
But perhaps Jaxson's greatest claim to fame was the move that made Michael Jackson a legendary dancer: The Moonwalk. Jaxson and friend Casper Geron Candidate were commissioned by Michael Jackson in early 1983 to teach Jackson the move they didn't invent, but had perfected and performed on national TV.
It was about a year after “Thriller” was released when Jackson contacted Jaxson, inquiring about the move.
“He wanted to learn it for the Jackson Victory Tour,” Jaxson said. “But then the most amazing thing happened. After we spent two days teaching it to him, and he paid us $1,000 each, it blows up when he did the Motown 25th Anniversary special.
“That night of his performance is when the world saw the Moonwalk. I'm glad I was a part of it,” said Jaxson.
But it wasn't until Michael Jackson's “Beat It” came on that his students and the family and friends who came to see the end-of-quarter recital became energized, with cheers and finally a standing ovation.
“I don't care who you are, there's something about Michael Jackson's music that does something to you. The energy motivates,” Jaxson said Thursday after learning the “King of Pop” died of cardiac arrest at the age of 50 in Los Angeles.
The death of Michael Jackson stirred many emotions and memories for Jaxson, a professional dance instructor who lives in South Lake Tahoe.
Jaxson was a friend of Michael Jackson, though the men only met up and engaged in conversation a handful of times, the last one being on the set of Jackson's “Smooth Criminal” video.
But each time was memorable because of the amount of respect that was paid to one another. History was made and Jaxson was a part of it. It was in 1983 that Jackson summoned the then 19-year-old fledgling professional dancer to a Southern California warehouse to teach him a move called the “backslide,” Jaxson said, though Jackson never publicly confirmed it. After learning it from Jaxson, the pop superstar renamed it the “moonwalk” and an iconic move was forever etched in pop culture.
Until recently, Jaxson had hoped to be booked as part of a dance crew for Jackson's planned summer tour, which was cut short when he fell ill. Jaxson was hopeful. He had inquired with MJJ Productions about being a part of the tour, and was told that he would be considered.
But when Jackson fell ill and was out of the public spotlight for more than a month, Jaxson thought something wasn't right.
“I had a feeling something was wrong because generally you hear back with either a ‘yes' or a ‘no' or a ‘maybe,'” Jaxson said. “I hadn't heard anything and it got me wondering.”
Jaxson compared the loss of Michael Jackson to that of Elvis, calling them “timeless legends” who died too young.
“I lost a friend and I can't believe it,” Jaxson said. “As the smoke clears, no matter what people said about him, he is still a person, had a genuine heart for people and for children.”
Jaxson watched as the pop star struggled with accusations and trials involving molestation charges, and it saddened him because he didn't believe Jackson was capable of hurting children.
“Let me be clear, people were constantly at him wanting money. They threatened him. They threatened his life. They sued him. They extorted from him. I am not surprised that he may have died of a heart attack. Because if you have this constant stress in your life, it kills you.”
What made Michael Jackson the eccentric man-child he was is something for pop-psychologists to examine. But Jaxson says it likely had to do with gaining fame as a singer and dancer from early childhood.
“Michael did not grow up like me. He never had the street knowledge, so when you're not from the streets your mentality is different,” Jaxson said. “He was very trusting. From his childhood he grew up, very sensitive, pampered, and he was always taken care of. That left his heart wide open.”
Jaxson was among a handful of break dance pioneers. He was a regular on early 80s TV shows “Soul Train” and “Solid Gold.”
But perhaps Jaxson's greatest claim to fame was the move that made Michael Jackson a legendary dancer: The Moonwalk. Jaxson and friend Casper Geron Candidate were commissioned by Michael Jackson in early 1983 to teach Jackson the move they didn't invent, but had perfected and performed on national TV.
It was about a year after “Thriller” was released when Jackson contacted Jaxson, inquiring about the move.
“He wanted to learn it for the Jackson Victory Tour,” Jaxson said. “But then the most amazing thing happened. After we spent two days teaching it to him, and he paid us $1,000 each, it blows up when he did the Motown 25th Anniversary special.
“That night of his performance is when the world saw the Moonwalk. I'm glad I was a part of it,” said Jaxson.
