Moonwalk...

1. Put on your moon boots. Once again, smoothness is key. Smooth-toed dancing shoes will work, as will similarly un-groovy loafers and dress shoes. You can moon walk in anything, including hiking boots, but as a beginner you want as little traction as possible. You may even want to start with just your socks on, so you can glide across the floor.
2. Get on the moon. The appeal of the moonwalk lies in its incredible smoothness, and while you can try it anywhere, it helps to be on a smooth, flat, non-stick surface. Most dance floors will work, of course, but so will most kitchen floors. Stay away from rough or uneven surfaces.

3.  

   L-position

   Move into the L-position. Lift your right leg and place the toes of your right foot facing the floor, approximately a foot behind your left leg.

4.  

    

   Find your balance by increasing the width between your legs and feet until you feel stable. A good rule of thumb is to have them about 3-6 inches (the width of one of your feet) apart.

5. Slide your left heel back and "into" the floor (as you lean back on your right leg) so that your left foot finishes behind the right leg. During this, the heel of your right foot should still remain in the air, with the toes pointed down on the floor.

    

   Push heel back...

    

   ...Past the right foot

6.  

    

   Snap the heel of your left foot up off the floor as you simultaneously snap the heel of your right foot down. Now you are in the L-position again, but this time with your feet switched.

7. Repeat the previous two steps, flipping the roles of your left and right foot.

8.  

    

   Add a head movement to help create the illusion of "moonwalking." As you slide your leg back, move your head forward as if it's being left behind in the movement. Then pull it back to the body as you switch to the other foot.

Tips

• The tips of both feet should never come up off the floor.
• Swing your arms as if you're walking normally. As your left leg slides back, your right arm should swing forward, and vice versa. Another variation is to do the moonwalk with your hands in your pockets.
• Begin by slowly, methodically practicing the individual motions. Gradually build up your speed as you perfect the moves. Always be sure you’re making it crisp.
• Once you get the classic backward movement down, you can progress to moonwalking in place, and then to moonwalking forwards. The trick to making this look right is to exaggerate the slide-and-snap part, and, of course, to synchronize the rest of your body so it looks like you are walking/sliding backwards though you are actually moving forwards.
• It will probably help you to have a couple of mirrors (one in front of you and one to the side) to check how you look.
• Once you think you’ve got it down, have a friend watch you and give you his or her honest opinion before trying it out at the club.
• It may be helpful to start out holding on to a stable object, and eventually do it hands free.
• Watch people moonwalk. It’s a lot easier to moonwalk once you see someone else do it. If someone you know can moonwalk, watch them and ask for pointers. If none of your friends know how to moonwalk, though, great—you’ll be the first. Check out some videos of Michael Jackson or others moonwalking.
• A historical factoid: The original name for this was not the moonwalk, but the "back slide". During the Michael Jackson era, the media mistakenly reported the name of this move as the Moonwalk and it stuck.
• This technique is actually a combination of two different "walking in place" mime techniques - sometimes called the "pull walk" and the "pressure walk." Mastering these techniques separately can add to the ease and efficiency of your moonwalk.

Warnings

• People inevitably associate moonwalking with Michael Jackson, and sometimes respond negatively when they see it.

Things You'll Need

• Smooth surface
• Soft dance shoes (or just an old pair of socks to start with)