‘Thriller’ dancers will go for the record

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Thrill the World, a mass dance performance of Michael Jackson’s music video “Thriller,” will take place in hundreds of cities across the globe, including Youngstown. The local dance will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the B&O Station, downtown. Dancers, dressed as zombies, have been practicing since late August.

Every year, volunteers from around the world organize a Thrill the World event in their area to raise money for a local charity. Each event is videotaped, and every zombie dancer becomes part of the official count in an attempt to set a world record for the “Largest Simultaneous Thriller Dance” in multiple locations.

The event began in 2006, and the current record was set Oct. 24-25, 2009, with 22,596 people dancing in 264 cities representing 33 countries.

This is the second year Youngstown is participating in the event. The event will benefit Canine Crusaders, a nonprofit organization that helps to save dogs at the Mahoning County dog pound.

Spectators at Saturday’s event are asked to bring a canned or nonperishable food item, which will benefit the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.

Volunteers are needed to help with food-donation transport, set up and tear down. Go to thrilltheworld-youngstown.com to learn more, or email Canine- Crusader@yahoo.com.