Know ‘Thriller’ dance? Join event

TRACEY D’ASTOLFO

Vindicator Correspondent

YOUNGSTOWN — Anyone hoping to break out their “Thriller” dance moves this Halloween season will have the chance this weekend.

Thrill The World, an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” will be at Youngstown State University’s Kilcawley Center at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in the Chestnut Room.

It’s the first time Youngstown has been involved.

Now in its fourth year, Thrill The World’s participant numbers have increased exponentially since its debut in 2006, when 62 dancers in Toronto, Ontario, set the first Guinness World Record for Largest “Thriller” Dance. Last year 4,179 people from 10 nations simultaneously performed the “Thriller” dance during Thrill The World. This year between 10,000 and 50,000 participants in 42 countries worldwide are expected to take part in the event.

Youngstown event organizer Karen Perkins said this year will be more significant because of Michael Jackson’s death.

“It’s a fun thing to get involved in,” said Perkins, “ but it’s also a tribute to Michael Jackson.”

Lewis Crook, a student at YSU, will play the role of Jackson.

Perkins stumbled upon the Thrill The World Web site while searching for an instructional DVD for the “Thriller” dance, and thought it would be a good event for Youngstown to join.

Thrill The World was founded by Ines Markelle, a dance choreographer and instructor in Toronto, Canada.

Participants will need to learn the “Thriller” dance before the event, said Perkins, who is in the process of learning the dance herself. Step-by-step instructions are available at www.ThrillTheWorld.com and www.yothriller.com, or you can contact Perkins for a DVD.

There will be a practice session at YSU at 5 p.m. Thursday in Room 119 of Beeghly Hall at YSU.

Although Saturday’s event officially begins at 8:30 p.m., participants can begin arriving at 5 p.m. to complete their registration. Perkins encourages dancers to dress as zombies, as the event will be filmed for world record verification.

YSU’s Pan-African Union is hosting the event at YSU and helping with the event. Hattie Hudson, president of the Pan-African Union, is the assistant event manager.

Perkins said about 75 people have registered so far.

Anyone interested in participating can register online at www.yothriller.com or call the YSU Office of Student Diversity Programs at (330) 941-2086. Event information is also available at www.thrilltheworld.com.