Choreographer Vincent Paterson Dishes on Working with Michael Jackson and Madonna, Says Experiences Were ‘Very Different’ (Exclusive)

Meredith Wilshere, Abby SternSun, October 25, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC

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Vincent Paterson in 2026; Michael Jackson in the video for ‘Smooth Criminal’Credit: Tommaso Boddi/Variety via Getty; Michael Jackson/YouTube -

Vincent Paterson says Michael Jackson pushed him to create choreography the world had never seen before

Paterson recalls teaching Madonna 18 pieces in 21 days for her 1990 Blonde Ambition Tour

The choreographer received the Vanguard Award at the 2026 Dancers Against Cancer Gala of The Stars

Vincent Paterson is opening up about what it was like working with two icons: Madonna and Michael Jackson.

At the Dancers Against Cancer’s Gala of the Stars on Oct. 22, the American director and choreographer reflects on some of the biggest moments from his decades-long career.

Paterson, 76, worked with Jackson for more than 15 years, developing the Bad Tour, choreographing the singer’s Super Bowl halftime show and working on the music videos for “Smooth Criminal” and “Blood on the Dance Floor.”

Paterson tells PEOPLE that “when you create something, you’re in the moment and you never think about the future of what’s going to happen.”

“You just want to do the best job you possibly can at the moment. And working with Michael Jackson, the fun was that he always wanted me to create something that the world had never seen before,” he reflects. “What more can an artist ask for than that?”

Michael Jackson and choreographer Vincent Paterson talk during the making of the ‘Blood on the Dance Floor’ music videoCredit: Bill Nation/Sygma via Getty

That freedom allowed Paterson to “come up with crazy ideas,” like the opening of the “Smooth Criminal” music video, which shows Jackson flipping a coin across the room and having it land in the jukebox, starting the music.

“I started it out that way, and I thought, ‘We have to keep coming up with some of these crazy things throughout.’ I’m really happy that it all succeeded,” he adds. “I’m just so happy that even today, people are still talking about and writing me about it and having the joy of sharing their kids’ joy with the video.”

Paterson says even the King of Pop “was blown away” by the idea.

“He was blown away. It was a great, great moment. Everybody in the room was very excited about that,” he reflects.

Nearly 40 years later, the choreographer notes that it’s still “very special to me.”

“I’m so honored. I’m so grateful,” he adds.

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Madonna during the Blonde Ambition Tour in 1990Credit: Gie Knaeps/Getty

Paterson also worked with Madonna for her Blonde Ambition World Tour in 1990, noting that their dynamic was “more collaborative.”

However, he recalls the process being “insane,” explaining that they had just 21 days to create 18 pieces.

“She didn’t really have a lot of time to make any suggestions. I came in every day, and I taught a new dance daily,” Paterson recalls. “So she just jumped in and did it and she was fantastic.”

Paterson emphasizes that Madonna and Jackson were “both very different.”

“Madonna worked in the room with me, and we would keep on going until she knew it,” he shares, adding that Jackson “was different.”

“I would teach him primarily what I created, and then he would go into a space by himself and repeat the same movement, I don’t even know, for half an hour or two hours until it came out of his body so perfectly that everybody thought the movement came from himself,” he shares. “And that gave me great joy, that it felt that organic for him.”

For his other projects, he says it was always about “collaboration” and that his work is always “about them, whoever it is that I’m working with.”

“I’m supposed to be invisible and my work’s supposed to be invisible. It should look as if it came out of their mind, their body, and that’s my dream always,” Paterson says.

During the event, Paterson was honored with the Vanguard Award, presented by Julie McDonald and Tony Selznick.

Paterson admits he was “a little bit shocked” by the honor since he is “accustomed to giving awards away rather than getting awards.”

“This is an exceptional situation for me and I’m nervous. I can’t believe I’m nervous with everything I’ve done and all the major people I’ve dealt with. I’m never nervous, but for some reason I feel like I’m about 12 right now,” Paterson shares.

on People

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”