Moonwalks

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. A style of dance characterized by gliding backward while appearing to walk forward; a maneuver used in various dances to create the illusion of moving on the surface of the moon; an iconic performance move popularized by certain artists, evoking a feeling of weightlessness and fluidity in movement
2. A dance technique where one slides feet backward in a way that gives the impression of walking forward; an impressively choreographed step associated with space-themed performances, typically featuring smooth transitions; a celebrated method of movement that has become a hallmark of entertainment and pop culture
3. A form of theatrical movement that imitates walking while sliding the feet backward; an expressive action often linked to famous performances, suggesting an effortless glide over the ground; a captivating style that showcases balance and rhythm, often seen in concerts and dance routines

Etymology: "Moonwalks" is the plural of "moonwalk," which is a compound of "moon" and "walk." The noun sense of the dance move is the one that matters here. The move itself predates its famous name: it was a backward-gliding step already known in street and club dance, and the illusion it creates, of walking forward while sliding backward, is what gave it its name. The name became a household term in 1983, when Michael Jackson performed the move on television and renamed it. Earlier, dancers had called it the backslide, but Jackson's performance of the step, and the title he gave it, attached the moon imagery to the move for good. The phrase "moon walk" in its literal sense of walking on the lunar surface was already in circulation after the Apollo missions, so the dance term borrowed a vivid, familiar image from space exploration.

Synonyms: backslides, glides, shuffles, slips, strolls