Did Michael ever take ballet classes?

[Ms. BlueGangsta]

He was such an amazing dancer that I've always wondered about this.
So, did he?

 

[HIStoric]

Here's a short thread from 2010 that discusses Michael and ballet a bit more! http://www.mjjcommunity.com/forum/threads/97731-Michael-and-ballet-did-you-know-this

He does a ballet-like move during the bridge of Bad, but that move was taken from the opening of West Side Story so ballet did have some influence on his moves, even if indirectly.

 

[MidnightMoonwalk]

Not that I know of.

 

[Silouette]

I don't know.
His talents were so vast and he had the ability to pick up on things so quickly. Just like with his tap dancing.

 

[HIStory]

Wade Robson said (before he went crazy) that MJ advised him never to take formal dance lessons not to destroy his talent. So I think MJ might have had a stance against formal artistic training, fearing it would kill the naturality and uniqueness of one's natural talent. I think that might have also been the reason why he never really pursued formal musical training (ie. playing instruments).

 

[Ms. BlueGangsta]

Wade Robson said (before he went crazy) that MJ advised him never to take formal dance lessons not to destroy his talent. So I think MJ might have had a stance against formal artistic training, fearing it would kill the naturality and uniqueness of one's natural talent. I think that might have also been the reason why he never really pursued formal musical training (ie. playing instruments).

Thanks for the info!
There may have been some truth to that too because most of the time I really dislike when I can obviously see dancers doing the eight count.

 

[SarahJ]

I doubt he ever took formal classes. I'm guessing he probably admired the art of ballet, studied on his own and picked it up as well as he did anything else.