Calling All Zombies! Learn ‘Thriller’ Dance and Break the Record

GATLINBURG, Tenn. – Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies will host “Thrill The World,” a worldwide attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous dance with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” on Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m. Thousands of people in cities around the world will learn the “Thriller” dance and perform it in Gatlinburg. 

Actress Ola Ray, who was best known for Jackson’s girlfriend in “Thriller,” the most popular video of all times, will lead the dancers in the “Thrill The World” dance at the aquarium.

Ray will be in the area on Oct. 24-25 at the Grand Resort Hotel and Convention Center in Pigeon Forge as part of Adventurecon.com, Tennessee’s largest pop culture and collectors show which features dozens of celebrities.   

In 2008, 4,179 people at 72 events in 71 cities in 10 nations participated in “Thrill the World.” Michael Jackson viewed the event in Los Angeles from a helicopter. The largest “Thriller” current record of 881 zombies danced in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2008.

Eleven other cities participated with more than 100 dancers in each city including: Seattle, Austin, Texas; Washington; Los Angeles; Bolton, England;  Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada and more. Gatlinburg was recruited to be one of the participating cities in “Thrill The World” in 2009.

“We are really excited to host this international event at the aquarium and would like everyone to come and participate in the “Thriller” dance so we can help break the world-record,” said Ryan DeSear, general manager of Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies.

Thriller Dance workshops will be taught at Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies in Gatlinburg each Tuesday at 6 p.m. during October or you can learn the dance free online at http://www.thrilltheworld.com/learn/videos. 

Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies is located at traffic light No. 5 on the Parkway in Gatlinburg and is open 365 days a year. For information, visit http://www.ripleysaquariumofthesmokies.com.