 Michaels was one of many choreographers set to pay tribute to Michael Jackson at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards.Michaels was to join Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio, Laurie Ann Gibson, Brian Friedman, and other dancer-choreographers in performing with Janet Jackson for her rendition of the song "Scream", but suffered an injury during rehearsals and was unable to perform on the show.Michaels has been on the faculty of schools including the Harid Conservatory, the Ailey School of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Broadway Dance Center in New York City, and her alma mater, the New World School of the Arts.