By Amanda McGregor
SALEM — It's a far cry from ballet or ballroom dancing, but the "Thriller" dance is unmistakable.
The lurching zombie dance was made famous by Michael Jackson's music video for the song "Thriller," and people will be staggering their way across the tiles on Saturday to try and break a world record.
Salem State College is among locations across the nation — and the globe — where people will congregate and dance "Thriller," at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, to try and break the Guinness Book world record for the largest "Thriller" dance, and the world's largest simultaneous dance.
"They get to learn the dance, of course, and be part of a world record attempt," said Karen Gahagan, staff assistant at the college's Center for Creative and Performing Arts. "We encourage people to dress as zombies, and prizes will be given for the best zombie and the best dancer."
Members of Salem State's Repertory Dance Theatre will begin running sequences of the dance at noon to help people learn it.
Gahagan said they are hoping for about 150 people.
"We already had 15 people from Connecticut register," she said. "They went to the Haunted Happenings Web site, so we have some out-of-staters."
The dance coincides with "Thriller's" 25th anniversary this year.
"'Thriller' has now been entered into the U.S. Library of Congress, deemed a 'culturally and aesthetically significant' part of recording history," said Kathleen McDonald Murphy, executive director for the Center for Creative and Performing Arts.
"It's a place where pop culture starts to mesh with ... modern dance. And it's just going to be ridiculously fun."
The group organizing the event, "Thrill the World," boasts that there will be 97 events in 12 countries this weekend, according to its Web site, www.thrilltheworld.com. All of the local events will be filmed and sent to "Thrill the World," which will submit the record attempt to Guinness.
Thrill The World's goal is to achieve a world record of 190,000 people dancing Michael Jackson's Thriller simultaneously.
Practice videos and other information are also available at thrilltheworld.com.
Participants at Salem State this weekend will pay a donation to benefit the Repertory Dance Theatre to help send students to the National College Dance Festival.
Want to go?
What: "Thrill the World" with Michael Jackson's "Thriller" zombie dance
When: Saturday, Oct. 25. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.; practice begins at noon; official start time is 2 p.m.
Where: Salem State College O'Keefe Center, in the multipurpose gym
Cost: $12 adults; $7 students and seniors; free admission to children under 12
Registration: Visit www.salemstate.edu/arts or call 978-542-7890. Registration is strongly advised.
