23,000 dance during worldwide Thriller event

Zombies, Michael Jackson look-a-likes and 1980s music came together to help break the record for The Largest Simultaneous Thriller Dance with the Record Holders Republic.

The 2009 “Thrill The World” event Saturday had about 23,000 participants in 32 different countries, beating last year’s record of 4,179 people simultaneously dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

Bloomington’s event took place at the Willkie Auditorium.

Event manager Alice Dobie-Galuska, who is also a University Division academic adviser, said there were 42 dancers who participated. She added that she led workshops to teach dancers the choreography for the past few months.

Dancers were also part of several “flash mobs” in the community prior to the show. The group arrived unannounced at different local venues and performed the “Thriller” dance.  
The event raised $229 to benefit Middle Way House, Dobie-Galuska said.

“It was really exciting because I knew thousands of people were dancing at the same time,” Dobie-Galuska said. “I’ve never taught dance before, and now I love it.”

The almost-six-minute-long song began and was accompanied by signature Jackson choreography including stiff head jerks and numerous zombie walks.

Two children dressed as Michael Jackson looked eerily similar, both wearing a replica of Jackson’s red jacket, which he wore in the original “Thriller” music video. Other dancers wore ripped shirts and pants and tacky dresses.  They also sported dyed hair with caked-on white face makeup and dark black rings around their eyes.

Audience member Tori Loyal, whose children participated, said it was fun to watch the performance.

“It was nice to have so many people involved,” Loyal said. “It brought nostalgia. I’m glad I can share this with my kids.”

Although “Thriller” was released in 1983, younger dancers born in the new millennium were still able to enjoy dancing to the heart-pumping beats of the song. 

Nine-year-old Laura Marcum said she had fun dancing but was a little camera-shy.

“We were on TV,” Laura said. “I was a little frustrated because I have never been on TV.”

During the performance, two cameras on stage recorded the dance to be posted on YouTube.

After the performance, dancers continued to groove to a dance-party playlist complete with Michael Jackson hits from his childhood years with the Jackson Five to his chart-topping solo career.

Darrelyn Valdez, whose son also participated, said she had wanted to learn the choreography for years. She added that because Jackson died recently, the performance was more meaningful this year than in the past. She said the original “Thriller” video was also unique.

“I think it was a pioneer for music videos, in terms of length,” Valdez said. “The costuming and choreography – people enjoy it. It was just awesome. We’re one big family now.”