Thrill the World Michael Jackson tribute sets global record

October 31, 12:20 PMChicago Community Life ExaminerChristine Nyholm

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Mrs. Illinois Anji Meidel teaches Zombie dance moves for Thrill the World Michael Jackson tribute.
Christine Nyholm

The 2009 Thrill the World event was held on Saturday, October 25. Six Flags Great America joined the effort to set a world wide record for the most people dancing like zombies to the music of Michael Jackson at the same time. According to an announcement on the Thrill the World website, the world record was set.

This was the fourth annual Thrill the World event and interest was at an all time high to honor the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. Thrill the World reported that 22,932 people danced to Thriller in 32 countries around the globe.

In the Chicago area, about 600 dancers practiced their zombie moves and danced to the music of Michael Jackson. Mrs. Illinois Anji Meidel led the Gurnee group for the two hour practice session and for the official performance.

Thrill the World was coordinated with about 400 events in 32 different countries. Coordinators were on the phone with headquarters so they could cue up and dance to the music simultaneously around the globe.

Thrill The World’s participant numbers have increased exponentially from the initial 62 dancers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 2006, which resulted in a Guinness World Record, to 4,179 dancers in 10 countries in 2008.

The Thrill the World tribute to Michael Jackson was founded by Ines Markelle, a dance choreographer and instructor in Toronto, Canada. It is Markelle’s unprecedented Thriller dance instructional teaching videos that make it possible for non-dancers and dancers, young and young-at-heart, to learn the dance in a very short time. New Thriller dancers have then gone on to teach other event participants.

Thrill The World achieved the ultimate recognition in 2008 from Quincy Jones. He blogged, “Proof of the Thriller album’s continuing popularity and impact comes in the form of Thrill The World, a volunteer organization that exists to stage simultaneous dances of the song Thriller around the globe.”

Quincy Jones blogged about Thrill the World in 2008, “Proof of the Thriller album’s continuing popularity and impact comes in the form of Thrill The World, a volunteer organization that exists to stage simultaneous dances of the song Thriller around the globe.”

Qnicy Jones wrote about Thrill the World again in July 2009 after the death of Michael Jackson,
“In every language on the planet, from prison yards in the Philippines Thrill the World that will be the beautiful, grand legacy of Michael Jackson.”

The Thrill the World event preceded the worldwide premiere of This Is It, the movie documentary made from rehearsal tapes filmed in the days before Michael Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009.

The 5th annual Thrill the World event will be on October 24, 2010. The Thrill the World website offers an instructional video so you can get practicing and join the fun.

Six Flags a Thriller during Fright Fest

Gurnee part of the Thrill the World Michael Jackson tribute

Michael Jackson impersonators at This Is It premieres

Pictures form the Red Carpet at LA This Is It premiere

Jackson siblings interviewed on CNN Larry King Live

Michael Jackson film This Is It premieres around the world

This Is It a stunning Michael Jackson production