He made history repeat itself on Friday night. For an hour and a half, performer Dantanio brought the King of Pop back to Tauranga in a musical tribute concert of the one and only Michael Jackson.

'I invite you to be free and reminisce,” said Dantanio to a sold-out crowd at Baycourt Community and Art Centre on June 10.

Michael Jackson impersonator Dantanio on stage at Baycourt on last Friday.

In a live concert experience, Dantanio journeyed through MJ's vast and incredible catalogue of work from his beginnings with The Jackson 5, and groundbreaking theatrics in the 1980s, to his evolution into the 21st Century.

It was a chance to relive the legend that was.

The staged musical biography included some of his greatest hits from The Jackson 5's ‘I Want You Back' and ‘Blame It on the Boogie' to the 1980 songs ‘Billie Jean' and Beat It' with the audience left counting the big hits on their fingers, keeping score of their favourites.

But one song was left until the very end. 'Thriller, play Thriller!” screamed a fan. So the 1982 smash hit was played.

From children dressed in black fedoras, white socks and loafers – some of the pop singer's iconic clothing – to men and women who grew up in the MJ era, the tribute concert brought together all types of fans.

'We are the world, we are the children,” sang Dantanio as he gestured to a fan dancing in the aisle to join him on the edge of the stage.

'We are the ones who make a brighter day, so let's start giving,” he continued to sing alongside the boy who had Down Syndrome.

The audience clapped and cheered, no doubt remembering MJ's kind and accepting nature. Michael truly believed music is for everyone.

Then there was us – the reporters from Sun Media, Zoe Hunter and Cayla-Fay Saunders.

Though Cayla and I weren't born when MJ's first album ‘Off The Wall' was released to the world, we remember feeling the loss of the King of Pop when he died in 2009.

And the lyrics of MJ's greatest hits still came straight to our lips, every word, every trademark gasp, grunt, cry and scat.

'I'm a huge MJ fan,” I confess to Cayla. She's already tapping her toes and reminiscing – clearly a fan too.

'Hey pretty baby with the high heels on, you give me fever like I've never, ever known,” we sing to the 1987 hit ‘The Way You Make Me Feel'.

As we sing, we watch – soaking in the atmosphere. Dantanio is on stage ‘hee-heeing' and scatting as he moves just like MJ used to. The moonwalk, the hip thrusts, the robot – Dantanio performs all of the famous moves effortlessly.

There's a lot of pressure to impersonate The King of Pop – but the audience is immersed in memory. 'We love you Michael,” men and women screamed.

I'm too young to have seen the real Michael Jackson in concert. As a dancer and dance teacher, I have performed to and choreographed many MJ songs.

I have read his biography, auto-biographies and watched the ‘This Is It' documentary filmed before his 2009 death (Yes, I am a big fan).

It would have been a dream come true to see Michael live in concert. But, Dantanio brought me that wish – because for a brief moment I was lost in memory too.

Born to a Gospel family, Dantanio began singing and dancing at age nine, developing a vocal repertoire spanning pop, R'n'B, swing, jazz and reggae.

Dantanio felt an affinity with Michael Jackson at an early age and his appreciation of Jackson's dancing evolved into obsessive practice as he taught himself to emulate every detail of the pop star's trademark dance style.

His imitation resulted in his ejection from an amateur dance competition at age 16 because the judges believed him to be of a professional standard.

Coming from his beginnings as an inspired young MJ fan, Dantanio now honours his idol with his role in The Michael Jackson HIStory Show, which is now touring Australia in 2016 and South Africa in 2017.

'The interpreter did a pretty spot-on interpretation of Michael,” says Cayla. 'I loved the crowd interaction – he made everyone feel as though they are a part of the performance and really engaged with certain members of the audience.” I agree.

We did think at some points the music was extremely loud in the intimate Baycourt arena, but I guess it's almost a crime to play MJ quietly. Overall, the night was a brilliant tribute to my favourite pop star.

Thank you Dantanio for bringing Michael back to us for that brief hour and a half. RIP MJ.