How to Do Planches Like Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson not only changed the landscape of pop music in the 1980s but he also inspired a whole new revolution of dance moves. Break dancing became all the rage on the streets of the major cities. Here is how to perform planches, which is one of Michael Jackson's more popular moves.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Lay flat against the ground with your stomach facing down.
2. Place your hands next to your shoulders as you would if you were performing a push up.
3. Push up with your hands, while simultaneously kicking your legs up into the air. The kick from your legs will give you the momentum to suspend in the air.
4. Hold this position as long as possible. There are variations on this pose. Some people try to attain a completely horizontal position while others try to keep their legs in a 45-degree angle. Have fun making this dance move your own and incorporating it into an overall break dance routine.

Tips & Warnings

• This dance move takes a significant amount of upper body strength. If you need to work on your muscles, try doing push ups with your feet on a wall. Lay perpendicular to the wall, assume the push-up position, then walk your feet up the wall. Perform as many push-ups as possible.
• Try chest to knee push-ups to strengthen your upper body. Assume a kneeling position. Then collapse your chest so that they are touching. Place your hands by your sides and push your body off the floor. This is an exceedingly hard exercise to perform; don't get discouraged if you can only perform one or two.