Michael Peters choreographed Thriller, won a Tony for Dreamgirls, and helped define the golden age of MTV — so why isn’t his name more widely known?
Before he revolutionized music video choreography, Michael Peters was a restless kid from Brooklyn, bouncing between gigs, trying to fit into the mold — and ultimately creating his own. From disco stages and Broadway flops to pop culture milestones (Michael Jackson and beyond!), this episode traces the full arc of his artistic evolution.
And in the outro, I’ll share a glimpse behind the scenes: a taste of how each episode is deeply researched, fact-checked, and built from the ground up to preserve and credit the legacy of these dance giants.
Conceived, starring, written, and researched by: Miller Daurey
Please like, and share the podcast!
Don't forget to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVffUUDYYun-pkFKi4jKpJw?sub_confirmation=
And follow my Instagram for daily dance inspo: https://www.instagram.com/backtogreat/
Thank you so much for supporting my journey! 💫❤️🙏🏼
Credit for the clips used in the video (names are YouTube handles):
4 sec: MichaelJackson
55 sec: js4653
4:04 min: Codinha20polo
4:21 min: toldes
5:35 min: zahifito2678
6:36 min: MichaelJackson
7:25 min: quemaneradereir5979
8:29 min: lionelrichie
8:44 min: BenatarGiraldo
9:02 min: iconicmusic3526
9:20 min: kidsfromfamemedia7917
10:22 min: derrick017
11:14 min: lovelove
20:12 min: storiesintheroom
This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which allows for the limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All clips are used transformatively, accompanied by original narration, verified historical context, and dance-specific analysis. I do not claim ownership of any third-party content; all inclusions serve a strictly educational purpose, supporting storytelling, cultural commentary, and archival documentation.
Films, performances, and archival materials featured include:
Thriller & Beat It (Michael Jackson)
Love Is a Battlefield (Pat Benatar, music video)
Running with the Night (Lionel Richie, music video)
Diana Ross: Live in Central Park (1983 concert)
Fame (TV series, 1982–1987, MGM Television)
13 Going on 30 (2004, Columbia Pictures)
Donna Summer on Soul Train – “Love to Love You Baby”
1984 Emmy Awards (broadcast footage)
Entertainment Tonight interview with Michael Peters (1980s)
Debbie Allen with Michael Peters – Martin Luther King TV Special (1986)
Stories in the Room – S2E12 (YouTube, used via Fair Use)
Rehearsal footage from Thriller at Debbie Reynolds Studios
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for non-commercial purposes, including historical preservation, dance education, and biographical storytelling.
Before he revolutionized music video choreography, Michael Peters was a restless kid from Brooklyn, bouncing between gigs, trying to fit into the mold — and ultimately creating his own. From disco stages and Broadway flops to pop culture milestones (Michael Jackson and beyond!), this episode traces the full arc of his artistic evolution.
And in the outro, I’ll share a glimpse behind the scenes: a taste of how each episode is deeply researched, fact-checked, and built from the ground up to preserve and credit the legacy of these dance giants.
Conceived, starring, written, and researched by: Miller Daurey
Please like, and share the podcast!
Don't forget to subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVffUUDYYun-pkFKi4jKpJw?sub_confirmation=
And follow my Instagram for daily dance inspo: https://www.instagram.com/backtogreat/
Thank you so much for supporting my journey! 💫❤️🙏🏼
Credit for the clips used in the video (names are YouTube handles):
4 sec: MichaelJackson
55 sec: js4653
4:04 min: Codinha20polo
4:21 min: toldes
5:35 min: zahifito2678
6:36 min: MichaelJackson
7:25 min: quemaneradereir5979
8:29 min: lionelrichie
8:44 min: BenatarGiraldo
9:02 min: iconicmusic3526
9:20 min: kidsfromfamemedia7917
10:22 min: derrick017
11:14 min: lovelove
20:12 min: storiesintheroom
This video complies with Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, which allows for the limited use of copyrighted material for purposes such as criticism, commentary, education, and research. All clips are used transformatively, accompanied by original narration, verified historical context, and dance-specific analysis. I do not claim ownership of any third-party content; all inclusions serve a strictly educational purpose, supporting storytelling, cultural commentary, and archival documentation.
Films, performances, and archival materials featured include:
Thriller & Beat It (Michael Jackson)
Love Is a Battlefield (Pat Benatar, music video)
Running with the Night (Lionel Richie, music video)
Diana Ross: Live in Central Park (1983 concert)
Fame (TV series, 1982–1987, MGM Television)
13 Going on 30 (2004, Columbia Pictures)
Donna Summer on Soul Train – “Love to Love You Baby”
1984 Emmy Awards (broadcast footage)
Entertainment Tonight interview with Michael Peters (1980s)
Debbie Allen with Michael Peters – Martin Luther King TV Special (1986)
Stories in the Room – S2E12 (YouTube, used via Fair Use)
Rehearsal footage from Thriller at Debbie Reynolds Studios
Clips are brief, selectively edited, and used under Fair Use for non-commercial purposes, including historical preservation, dance education, and biographical storytelling.