What Dancing Shoes I Wear as a Professional Michael Jackson Tribute Artist
By Matt Walsh — Founder & Principal Performer
One of the most common questions I get asked is, “What kind of shoes do you wear when you perform?”
Michael’s footwear was a key part of his style — not just for the look, but for how it influenced his movement. The right pair of loafers changes your balance, your glide, and even how your body feels in rhythm. Over the years, I’ve spent a lot of time studying the specific models he wore and how they perform on stage, and here’s what I’ve learned.
Michael’s shoes were originally Florsheim shoes. In Beat It, Thriller, and Motown 25, where he performed his first televised Moonwalk, he wore variations of the Florsheim Como Tassel Loafer. They were stylish, lightweight, and smooth-soled — perfect for gliding and pivoting.
During the Victory Tour, he switched between three styles: the Florsheim Imperial with the buckle, the Florsheim Como Strap Loafer with a flat strap, and the Florsheim Como Tassel Loafer. Each had its own feel underfoot. Florsheim shoes, in general, are heavier than other loafers, and this extra heel weight helps the performer’s heel stay down during moves like the Moonwalk — something lighter shoes, like Bass Weejuns, don’t do the same. You won’t build that muscle memory with lighter shoes, so if you’re practicing the Moonwalk, the best shoes to help you develop that foundation are Michael’s original Florsheims.
By the Bad Tour, Michael primarily performed in Florsheim Imperials. They’re still made today, with a soft nappa leather upper and leather linings. A downside of wearing Florsheim shoes for a 90-minute to two-hour show is that the heels are heavy, providing stability but also causing fatigue during long sets.
It’s important to note that Florsheims aren’t perfect shoes. They’re cheaply made and not built to last. They wear down quickly, the soles are glued instead of stitched, and they tend to fall apart after just a few performances. Truthfully, they’re a budget shoe — but they’re what Michael learned to dance in. He tried other styles, but Florsheim shoes were the only shoes that consistently worked for his technique. His body adapted to them, and mine did the same with Bass Weejuns — those are the shoes I grew up wearing, and they’re what my muscle memory is based on.
It’s worth mentioning that several signed pairs of Michael’s worn Florsheims have appeared in photos and auctions over the years, and you’ll notice they’re only lightly worn. It's apparent that Florsheims break down fast — they’re really only usable for the first few performances. I’d say they’re good for no more than about ten shows before they lose their shape. They need to be broken in, not polished. In fact, Florsheims don’t take polish well at all. Due to the treatment of the leather, the oils in the polish will make them slippery and streaked. Michael even told his longtime costume designer, Michael Bush, that polishing made them unsafe to dance in. The best approach is to keep them matte and have two pairs: one for photos and one for performances. The photo pair should stay pristine for camera work, while the performance pair will inevitably get worn out by the end of a show.
Regarding leather types, the kid skin used on the Como loafers provides a brighter, glossier finish — ideal for Thriller-era photo shoots or tuxedo looks. The nappa leather used on the Imperials is more matte and suits Bad-era costumes better, especially when paired with black or military-inspired outfits. Personally, I think nappa leather looks amazing under stage lights, but for close-up photography, the shine of kid skin is well appreciated.
By the Dangerous Tour, Michael had begun using lighter loafers like the Florsheim Berkeley and styles from Sebago. You can see this in his movement — his dancing became more fluid and airborne, partly because of the lighter shoes and the progressively thinner, less restrictive costumes. The heavy buckles and straps from the Bad era disappeared, replaced by lightweight pants and shoes that let his choreography breathe. The trade-off with more traditional “beef-roll” penny loafers is that they are stiffer. The toes don’t bend as freely, and the vamp no longer has the elastic bands that allowed the previous Florsheim models to fit snugly like jazz boots.
By the HIStory Tour, you start to see Michael bringing back the traditional Florsheim Imperial style along with the Sebago and Florsheim Berkeley “beef-roll” penny loafers — blending comfort and authenticity for the final stage of his footwear evolution.