If all goes as planned, Atlanta may be able to add one more accolade to its long list – being the location of the largest reenactment of the 1983 Michael Jackson hit video, “Thriller.”
Sunday night 903 participants, dressed-up as zombies, Catholic nuns, aliens, Star Wars storm troopers, even cavemen and cave women filled Grand Ballrooms ABC of the Sheraton Hotel on Courtland Avenue for the Guinness World record attempt. It all took place during the third day of the Dragon Con convention.
“We were having a science fiction conference and a party broke out,” said Pat Henry, Dragon Con conference chairman. “This is our first official Guinness attempt, even though I am sure we have a few unofficial records.”
Planning for the most people simultaneously dancing to Jackson’s “Thriller” in one place began May 28. It was the brainchild of Kimber McDermott.
“I just really wanted to show the world what Dragon Con is all about while bringing people together for a really fun event,” she said.
It became more of a tribute to Jackson after his death.
Only conference registrants could participate and they had to also register for the dance in advance. Once participants arrived, they were given a ribbon with a number on the back.
That ribbon guaranteed access to the room. Participants were then separated into groups based off of their numbers and assigned to specific entry ways where they had to then check their name off of a pre-printed list.
If your name was not on the list you did not get in.
Ruth Suehle was number 603 of the 2,000 pre-registered for the dance.
“I have been dancing all of my life,” she said. “Who doesn’t want to be in Guinness?”
Last month, a group reportedly attempted to do the same in Mexico. However, according to Suehle, they used the wrong music.
That event drew over 12,000 dancers according to The Christian Science Monitor.
The official record is 242 people at one time, said Mandy Collier, special events director for Dragon Con. And, according to The Christian Science Monitor, students set it from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Va. in May.
After getting everyone in and lined up, the participants did one run-through just to warm everyone up.
“We want everyone to give it his or her all,” McDermott yelled from the stage as everyone got into place.
A siren went off, the sound of a door slammed, and the dancing began.
“Right, left, right left, shoulder, step, shoulder, step, 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8,” could be heard as Jackson’s best selling song filled the room.
As they danced, the entire spectacle could be seen over a large video screen positioned at the front of the room to the right of the stage. Front and center on the stage, a man dressed as Michael led the performance donned in red jeans, red leather jacket, white socks and black penny loafer shoes.
By 7:45, the final laugh faded on the recording and the crowd erupted into cheers and claps. They were celebrating what they anticipated to be true -- that the record had been captured.
Shannon Williams, of Atlanta was on the front row.
“I came out today because Michael has always been a great influence in my life,” said the 29-year-old native of Franklin, Tenn. She now lives in Atlanta.
“I was already planning on being here, so I thought, ‘Why not come out and do something to salute him,’” she said.
As she fanned herself to cool off, she said she was ready to dance at least three more times.
The next step is for Collier to send the official log with the final numbers, along with the video to Guinness. She plans to do so first thing Tuesday morning.
“We should know in three days their decision,” she said.
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