A Movable Tribute Celebrates Life of Michael Jackson Through Dance

About 3 p.m. Thursday, as people sat in front of the fountains on the Georgetown waterfront taking their afternoon breaks, Michael Childs, 18, emerged from a group of about 20 people and snapped his fingers, starting a choreographed routine to Michael Jackson's "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)."

It was their fourth performance of the day, and they wanted to go out in style, as the youths pointed their fingers in the air, shimmied and glided across the concrete.

The performance might not become an overnight YouTube sensation as some similar tributes to the King of Pop have. But Thursday's turned some heads. The idea for the roaming dance tribute came in the aftermath of Jackson's death June 25.

But that wasn't the point, said Maria Jones, lead instructor of the Multi-Media Training Institute that coordinated the tribute. Her goal was to boost the self-esteem of the young people the organization mentors. The Northeast Washington organization helps teens and young adults tap into their creativity through such skills as video production, Web design and technical theater.

"We wanted to have a day honoring Michael," Jones said. "A day in front of the public."

Thursday was definitely that.

The young people appeared at four District locations: Rhode Island Avenue NE, Chinatown, Dupont Circle and Georgetown.

Unlike the intricately coordinated public tributes that have garnered No. 1 play on YouTube since Jackson's death, the students' performances Thursday were intended as a way to use creative expression and to get others to join along.

"The main point was not perfection," Jones said. "It was the fact that they were doing it, and that they were bold and courageous enough to do this."

At every stop, onlookers whipped out their cellphone cameras to snap shots of the pseudo-flash-mob performance. Some even jumped on the "Soul Train" line the group created after each tribute.

Childs imitated Jackson throughout the day. The recent graduate of the District's H.D. Woodson High School wore a purple T-shirt emblazoned with a childhood photo of Jackson, black dress shoes and a tight pair of jeans (borrowed from his sister's closet) to copy Jackson's signature look. The jeans, he said, were uncomfortable, to say the least.

"For Michael," he said, "I'll do it, though."

Jesse Hendriks, 27, was helping out with his glass company near the waterfront when he heard the noise from the tribute.

He wandered over and stared at the young people, amazed at their energy. He said he had never seen anything like it. "It's just nice to see everyone getting along like that," he said.