Vincent Paterson, Choreographer Behind Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal,” to Receive Legacy Award

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By Mockulus Editorial
October 22, 2026

Vincent Paterson, the choreographer and director who helped shape several of Michael Jackson’s best-known videos and live shows, will receive the Legacy Award at the 16th annual World Choreography Awards. The ceremony takes place Sunday, November 8, at the Avalon Hollywood in Los Angeles, according to Variety, which reported the news on October 1.

About the Award

The World Choreography Awards recognize work across eight categories, including motion pictures, music videos, television, commercials and digital content. WCA founder and producer Allen Walls described the night as “an extraordinary one-night-only celebration” of dance talent. The program will include live performances by Chucky Klapow, Becca Sweitzer, Kevin Stea, Marie Poppins, Holden Maples, Erica Klein and Kelly Sweeney. Paterson’s award recognizes a career that spans films, concert tours, television, Broadway, opera and commercials.

His Work With MJ

Paterson worked with MJ for more than 15 years, according to his agency biography. He first appeared in MJ’s work as a dancer: he is one of the two fighter dancers in the “Beat It” video, and was an assistant choreographer and zombie dancer in “Thriller,” per Wikipedia and an interview on The MJCast podcast.

During the “Bad” era, his role expanded. He co-directed and co-choreographed the Bad World Tour and co-choreographed the videos for “The Way You Make Me Feel,” “Dirty Diana,” “Speed Demon” and “Smooth Criminal,” working on the last with MJ and Jeffrey Daniel of Shalamar. The MJCast notes that he developed the “lean” move in “Smooth Criminal.”

In the 1990s he worked on the “Black or White” video, which he has said incorporated dances from around the world, and co-directed and co-choreographed the “Blood on the Dance Floor” video. Live, he is credited with work on MJ’s 1988 Grammy performance, the MTV 10th Anniversary segment and the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in 1993.

Beyond MJ

Paterson also created Madonna’s Blond Ambition World Tour and choreographed her videos for “Express Yourself” and “Vogue,” along with her performance in the film “Evita,” according to his biography. His film credits include “The Birdcage,” “Closer,” “Dancer in the Dark,” “Hook,” “The Mighty Quinn” and “Mannequin.” He received a Tony nomination for his choreography of “Kiss of the Spider Woman” on Broadway. A documentary about his life, “The Man Behind the Throne,” directed by Kersti Grunditz, has been shown at festivals.

Why It Matters for MJ Fans

Many of the dance moments fans return to, from the gang confrontation in “Beat It” to the zombie sequence in “Thriller” and the lean in “Smooth Criminal,” were shaped by teams of choreographers and dancers working alongside MJ. Paterson’s credits show how many of those moments came from collaboration. The Legacy Award recognizes his career as a whole, including but not limited to that work.

The ceremony arrives in a year when the biopic and the “MJ” musical have drawn fresh attention to the creative teams behind MJ’s productions. Winners of the competitive categories will also be announced on November 8, according to the WCA’s site.

Source; World Choreography Awards, Variety, MJVibe, and Wikipedia