Michael Jackson in Smooth Criminal
On October 26, 1993, Michael Jackson was granted a patent for a unique system that allowed him to bend his body at unnatural angles during performances of the song "Smooth Criminal." On stage, Jackson and his dancers wore special shoes enabling them to execute the now-iconic lean by attaching to a mechanism at just the right moment. This setup allowed them to shift their center of gravity forward without falling.
The patent, officially titled "Method and Means for Creating Anti-Gravity Illusion" (U.S. Patent No. 5,255,452), details the innovative design behind the shoes and the anchoring system on the stage floor. This mechanism used a slot in the heel of each shoe that could lock onto a retractable peg on the floor. When engaged, the peg secured the heel, allowing Jackson and his dancers to lean forward at an impressive 45-degree angle—a feat that would otherwise be impossible for even the most highly trained dancers, who can typically reach only a 25- to 30-degree angle at most.
This invention allowed Michael Jackson to perform the gravity-defying move not only in the "Smooth Criminal" music video, where special effects could have been used, but also in live performances. The secret behind the maneuver, once a source of widespread fascination, remained hidden until the patent became widely known, roughly twenty years after its creation. This device became a symbol of Jackson's dedication to pushing the boundaries of performance art, blending choreography with cutting-edge innovation.
