One of the best things about working at MTV is finding little hidden gems in the MTV archives. Like this one.

Way before "Live To Dance," before hosting a cheerleading bowl on MTV, and before the major career resuscitation that came in the form of a little show called "American Idol," Paula Abdul was a dancer. Before she was even an international pop star, Paula was -- at heart -- just a girl who could dance her ass off. A former L.A. Lakers girl, Paula eventually rose to stardom choreographing Janet Jackson during her Control era.

And way before she was a gorgeous, sexy, A-list pop icon, Janet Jackson was a baby-faced, soft-spoken powerhouse willing to learn some dance steps from a pro.

We dusted off an MTV vintage video of Paula teaching Janet and her dancers some sweet moves. And don't think we're not loving the dudes in the belly shirts, because we are. Hard.