Barry Lather Recalls History with Michael Jackson
- Christina Chaffin
DAYTON, Ohio – Barry Lather has been dancing since he was 5 years old. His love for dancing extends back to his family roots, where his mother Joan was a dance instructor and father George owned a dance supply store. Today, Lather is a professional choreographer and director who has directed multiple live television performances at shows including the MTV Awards and American Music Awards, and world tours. He has expanded his resume of choreography by working with a lengthy list of performers, including Janet Jackson, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men and George Michael. Among that list of entertainers is Michael Jackson.
Lather first worked with Michael on the set of 1985’s “Captain EO” as a background dancer. He said he had recently moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Los Angeles and was excited to audition. “I auditioned in Los Angeles for the role as a background dancer with 12 hundred other dancers and Michael picked 40 of us,” Lather said. “At the end of the project, I asked if I could get a picture with Michael, and we were still in costume from filming.”
According to Lather, being a background dancer in “Captain EO” was exciting, but Lather said another dream of his was to strengthen his dancing abilities and become a choreographer. He said the first person to offer him a chance to choreograph was Michael’s sister Janet. Lather said, “Janet wanted to try something new,” he said. “I was just 20 years old then and had danced in a couple of her previous videos, and I remember her saying, ‘I have a video I’d love for you to choreograph.’” Lather said the video Janet was speaking of was for her song “Pleasure Principle.” According to him, working as a choreographer for “Pleasure Principle” was a pivotal moment in his career because it offered him new opportunities to work with a variety of entertainers, and the ability to pursue new projects with Michael.
Lather first worked with Michael on the set of 1985’s “Captain EO” as a background dancer. He said he had recently moved from Atlanta, Georgia to Los Angeles and was excited to audition. “I auditioned in Los Angeles for the role as a background dancer with 12 hundred other dancers and Michael picked 40 of us,” Lather said. “At the end of the project, I asked if I could get a picture with Michael, and we were still in costume from filming.”
According to Lather, being a background dancer in “Captain EO” was exciting, but Lather said another dream of his was to strengthen his dancing abilities and become a choreographer. He said the first person to offer him a chance to choreograph was Michael’s sister Janet. Lather said, “Janet wanted to try something new,” he said. “I was just 20 years old then and had danced in a couple of her previous videos, and I remember her saying, ‘I have a video I’d love for you to choreograph.’” Lather said the video Janet was speaking of was for her song “Pleasure Principle.” According to him, working as a choreographer for “Pleasure Principle” was a pivotal moment in his career because it offered him new opportunities to work with a variety of entertainers, and the ability to pursue new projects with Michael.
In 1992, Lather worked briefly on the set of Michael’s video for his song “Jam,” but said his next big project with Michael came in 1995 in New York City for a Home Box Office concert special. The HBO special, titled “Michael Jackson: One Night Only,” never aired due to Michael’s health at the time, but according to Lather, “He was a trooper and never stopped focusing on the show.”
Lather choreographed performances for Michael’s songs “Thriller” and “Smooth Criminal.” “Rehearsing with him for the HBO special was my first chance to really choreograph with him,” Lather said. He said he approached Michael with a new choreographed-concept for “Thriller’s” performance and Lather said Michael said, “As long as it’s better than the [original dance].”
Lather choreographed performances for Michael’s songs “Thriller” and “Smooth Criminal.” “Rehearsing with him for the HBO special was my first chance to really choreograph with him,” Lather said. He said he approached Michael with a new choreographed-concept for “Thriller’s” performance and Lather said Michael said, “As long as it’s better than the [original dance].”
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When it came to “Thriller’s” new choreography, Lather said the performance was to feature 20 dancers, and said he described the style to Michael as “industrial” and “punk rock.” “I was thinking to myself, ‘It’s time to create a new ‘Thriller.,’’’ and people had black trench coats, black fedoras and sunglasses on,’” Lather said. “All of the dancers had flashlights and it was like they were searching in the night. I was excited and nervous when we presented it to him, and then I stopped and went to talk to him. He was smiling and shaking his head saying, ‘Yes.’” After sharing the performance the initial time, Lather said they immediately shared it with Michael a second time after the first showing.
When thinking back to the time he spent with Michael while preparing for the HBO special, Lather said one of his unique memories with him is how he learned choreography. He said Michael learned routines by watching and not physically dancing. |
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“He learned the choreography when no one else was in the room,” Lather said. “I was amazed how Michael learned by watching and soaking the choreography up visually.”
Though the HBO special was canceled, Lather said he had another chance to work with him, when he was offered the chance to help choreograph the short film to Michael's song “Ghosts.” A few months after the HBO special canceled, Michael and choreographer Travis Payne called Lather, asking him if he would like to help choreograph “Ghosts.” Lather said he wanted to be part of the project, but said he was already involved with another project. Though he couldn’t break his deal with his other project, Lather said he came up with an idea that would allow him to help choreograph “Ghosts.”
Lather said he suggested an idea of videotaping his choreographed ideas and sending them to Michael and his team. “I began filming my choreography in March 1996, and I made up brand-new steps, trying to come up with the coolest, edgiest steps to send to Michael,” he said. “I was there for the taping of ‘Ghosts’ and asked, ‘Did you guys use any of my [dance steps]?,’ and Travis said, ‘Dude, we used like half of it.’” (Besides new choreographed material, Lather said a lot of the “Thriller” routine he created for the HBO special also appears in “Ghosts,” because according to him, “Michael loved it,”).
Though the HBO special was canceled, Lather said he had another chance to work with him, when he was offered the chance to help choreograph the short film to Michael's song “Ghosts.” A few months after the HBO special canceled, Michael and choreographer Travis Payne called Lather, asking him if he would like to help choreograph “Ghosts.” Lather said he wanted to be part of the project, but said he was already involved with another project. Though he couldn’t break his deal with his other project, Lather said he came up with an idea that would allow him to help choreograph “Ghosts.”
Lather said he suggested an idea of videotaping his choreographed ideas and sending them to Michael and his team. “I began filming my choreography in March 1996, and I made up brand-new steps, trying to come up with the coolest, edgiest steps to send to Michael,” he said. “I was there for the taping of ‘Ghosts’ and asked, ‘Did you guys use any of my [dance steps]?,’ and Travis said, ‘Dude, we used like half of it.’” (Besides new choreographed material, Lather said a lot of the “Thriller” routine he created for the HBO special also appears in “Ghosts,” because according to him, “Michael loved it,”).
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Looking back at the moments he spent on the set of “Ghosts,” Lather said he treasures those memories with Michael. While on the set, he said the one thing he will never forget Michael saying is, “This is a film. Films last forever.” Lather said those words are a clear reminder of the work ethic Michael had as a performer. Another memory of him, Lather said is special describes Michael’s humanity. “While on the set of ‘Ghosts,’ I told him my wife and I were expecting a baby, and he said, ‘That’s a dream of mine, to have kids.,” and he was really happy for us,” Lather said.
Though Michael was one of a long list of people he has worked with, Lather said he is someone he will always remember for his “undeniable talent and caring heart.” Original article link: Barry Lather Recalls History with Michael Jackson Behind the article: Today, Bather Lather is a well-known choreographer for his work with Justin Bieber, Usher, Paula Abdul and others, and during our interview, he continuously acknowledged his appreciation for those he's worked with. Michael was one of many he acknowledged, but during our conversation, he said he had "nothing but sincere gratitude toward him." Barry said one of his light-hearted memories of Michael while on the set of "Ghosts" is, "He always had candy." In addition that that thought, Barry said, "I remember how mild-manered Michael was. He could truly tansform himself and was so warm and loving. He wasn’t loud. He was quiet and calm, but was sure of his talent and ability." |
Barry said he always respected Michael, "because he always respected me," and said he was happy to share his memories because "the world deserves the chance to read something positive about a great person."
Source: michael-jackson-memories.weebly.com/barry-lather.html