 20-year-old Polina Rogozhina, a York University student, shows off her Zombie moves to the sound of Michael Jackson's Thriller album. On the 27th., thousands around the world will be doing the same dance at the same time. (Sun Media/Dave Thomas)
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Okay, all you Thriller fans-- and you know who you are -- it's time to channel your inner zombie.
The werewolves are a-howlin', and only a few more days remain until your chance to Thrill the World.
On the 25th anniversary of the Michael Jackson classic, a Kitchener dancer is organizing a simultaneous, world-wide project in which fans in 15 countries are set to perform the identical Thriller dance at 6 p.m. EST on Oct. 27 (or Oct. 28, if you're in Australia.)
Last year, Ines Markeljevic made the Guinness Book of World Records when she had 62 dancers recreate the Thriller moves in an event she titled "Thrill Toronto." Now, she has her sights set on the world.
"I was raised on the Thriller album," explains Markeljevic, a chirpy 26-year-old former York University dance student. "I was 2 years old dancing to Michael Jackson."
HOW IT'S DONE
It was the iconic song of the '80s, back when Michael Jackson still looked like an African-American man and was known for his music rather than his peeling nose and fondness for young children. In high school, Markeljevic's dance teacher taught her the steps and every Halloween since, her friends have always called on her to show them how it's done.
"People always say, 'I wish I could do it,' and I'd tell them it's really easy, you can do it too."
Last year, after hearing about the annual Zombie Walk breaking into a few moves from Thriller when they crossed through Dundas Square, Markeljevic suddenly knew the time was now.
She called the Guinness people to find out what the record was for the world's largest simultaneous group dance. When she heard it was 197,569 students doing the Hokey Pokey across Canada in 2002, she figured Thriller didn't stand a chance.
But on Oct. 13, they told her they'd be interested in creating a new category -- the largest Thriller dance. And just five days later, she held her first "Thrill Toronto" with 62 following her choreographed routine.
Now she's going global, thanks to the Internet (thrill theworld.com) and taking on the Hokey Pokey for the world's largest simultaneous dance. She's posted her instructional videos on YouTube to teach the world how to do the zombie march, march booty swim, hip 'n' roar and wuz up.
Just like in the famous video.
Directed by John Landis, Thriller was a groundbreaking 14-minute mini horror movie set to Jackson's 1982 song. The highlight, of course, was all those zombies shaking their monster booties. It's been a Halloween party favourite ever since.
Markeljevic's one-woman mission to teach it to the world already has people signed up in more than 85 registered events in over 81 cities in 15 countries on five continents.
Schulich school of business student Polina Rogozhina is organizing the Toronto event at York University. She's hoping 200 wannabe zombies will show up at 10 a.m. at the Accolade East building to learn the moves, break the record and also raise some money for the Sick Kids Foundation.
"My friends are pretty excited," she says. "How often do you have a chance to be part of a Guinness World Record?"
EVERYONE CAN DANCE
Markeljevic has spent a year of her life organizing Saturday's global event -- the question, of course, is why?
The dancer/choreographer/instructor says her first goal is to show people that they really can dance, no matter how many left feet they think they have.
Some of us would still beg to differ.
"I know it sounds really cheesy," she continues, "but I want to connect people across boundaries of language, beliefs, religion and geography. I'm promoting world peace through dancing."
She warned us that it sounded cheesy.
And finally, there's the self-promotion goal. "If I can pull off Thrill the World, there's a whole lot more that I can do."
She's getting e-mails from all over the world. Her favourite so far is from Rockford, Ill., where scattered relatives told her they learned the dance online and did Thriller together at their recent family reunion. "We're bringing families together," she laughs.
Even her mom in Kitchener has learned the moves and will be joining that city's event on Saturday.
Jackson knows of last year's event, she says, and she's hoping his people will tell him about this attempt at a world record.
No word yet on whether the dethroned King of Pop will be appearing in his red leather jacket to join in.
