Legendary Hollywood choreographer Stacy Walker has worked on countless iconic projects, and during the Jan. 6 episode of The Dammit Danii Podcast, she pulled back the curtain on some unforgettable behind-the-scenes moments. From Michael Jackson’s Ghosts short film to the cult classic Coyote Ugly and Courtney Love’s “Celebrity Skin” video, Walker shared stories fans rarely hear.
Walker revealed that dancing as one of the ghouls in Ghosts was actually her very first job in Los Angeles and her first time ever meeting Michael Jackson. Without auditioning, she landed not only that role but went on to work with Michael Jackson two more times, including on his final world tour.
She explained that being hired without an audition came with its own pressure.
“If you audition and they pick you, and it doesn’t go well, that’s on them,” she said. “But if they just ask you to do it and you mess up, that’s on you.” Walker admitted the experience sometimes brought on imposter syndrome, even though she had clearly earned her place.
Despite the honor, Ghosts remains her most challenging job to date.
“It was dirty, it was prosthetics, it was heavy costumes,” she recalled. “They dust you down and spray you with cobwebs. And the dancing was hard, it was monster-ugly dancing. I was used to cute, elegant movement.”
One of the biggest surprises? How the iconic cobwebs were made.
“That’s a fan and hot glue,” Walker revealed. “That’s how they did it. It was actually really cool.”
Beyond the demanding work, Walker described Michael Jackson as warm, kind, and deeply appreciative of everyone involved. She said she got to know him even better while touring, when the small group of dancers spent most of their time together.
“One day during rehearsal, I asked him if he’d ever been to McDonald’s,” she laughed. “He said, ‘No.’ I told him, ‘You have to go, at least once, just for the experience.’”
For Michael Jackson fans, Walker’s stories offer a rare, human glimpse into the making of Ghosts and into the gentle personality of the King of Pop himself.
