Another major contributor to Jackson’s success was another Michael, as in Michael Peters, the legendary choreographer. Before directing the dance sequences in Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and “Thriller,” Peters had directed Donna Summers and Diana Ross, the queens of disco & R&B, respectively. He also directed the dance scenes in the stage sensation “Dreamgirls” which won a slew of industry awards, became a timeless masterpiece, and made stars out of two Jennifers, first Holiday on stage and Hudson in the movie version. Michael Jackson first met Michael Peters in 1976, seven years before “Beat it,” when he was working with Lola Falana. Michael said, according to JET, he wanted to “learn those moves” that Peters orchestrated on stage. When Michael hired Michael for the “Beat It” video, he learned how to do those moves. Michael even incorporated some of the moves he learned on the set of the “Beat It” video for his legendary performance of “Billie Jean” performance on “Motown 25.”
