Dancing with Michael Jackson: A Night to Remember In 1987, when I was twelve years old, my family and I attended Michael Jackson’s “Bad” concert in Hartford, CT, thanks to family friends who couldn’t make it. We had great seats, about a third of the way back in the lower section of the packed arena. As my younger sister and I danced and sang along, a large man with credentials approached my mom and asked if we wanted to dance on stage with Michael. To our disbelief… True to his word.
In 1987, when I was twelve years old, my family and I attended Michael Jackson’s “Bad” concert in Hartford, CT, thanks to family friends who couldn’t make it. We had great seats, about a third of the way back in the lower section of the packed arena. As my younger sister and I danced and sang along, a large man with credentials approached my mom and asked if we wanted to dance on stage with Michael. To our disbelief, she agreed, and he promised to return during “Billie Jean” to take us backstage.
True to his word, he appeared right on cue, much to my mother’s mixed excitement and nervousness. He took my sister and me backstage, where we got to witness the incredible behind-the-scenes of such a massive production. Then, during the song “Bad,” we were ushered up onto the stage. I found myself dancing right next to Michael Jackson, an unforgettable experience. I remember his smile, the beads of sweat on his face, and seeing 15,000 people cheering us on from the jumbotron. After the performance, I shook his hand and shared a brief moment with him backstage.
Though we tried to secure footage of the concert for years, we never succeeded. But the memory of that night—dancing alongside the King of Pop—has stayed with me as one of the most surreal and incredible moments of my life.
