Dragon*Con ‘Thriller’ dancers might break world record
"Thriller" dancers at Dragon*Con 2009. Photo by Brenda Smith.
Now that we’re all back to work and school, let’s check in on one of the great moments in Labor Day fun, shall we?
I mentioned last week that a group of Dragon*Con attendees in Atlanta would try to break the world record for the number of people dancing to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” The standing record is at College of William & Mary, where 242 people danced (and recorded it to Guinness’ specifications) in April 2009.
Well, 903 danced to the ghoulish theme at Dragon*Con on Sunday, down slightly from an earlier count of 905. (In costume! That doesn’t do anything for the record, but it does make for solid entertainment.)
Here’s a video, shot by the AJC’s Elissa Eubanks. Note the giant Michael Jackson glove around 3:13.
Here’s some rehearsal video. I’ll post the official view when organizers are done editing, hopefully later today!
Of course, 903 is impressive, but it doesn’t mean the Dragon*Con dancers broke the record. Michael Jackson’s birthday in August got several groups dancing, including several thousand in Mexico. Dragon*Con dance organizers say they might have used the wrong song version, though, and didn’t dance throughout the entire song. Now, they wait for the folks at Guinness World Records to make the determination.
Dragon*Con 2009 "Thriller" dancers. Photo by Brenda Smith.
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74 comments Add your comment
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
4:23 pm
Lame. Any attempts to do a large group Thriller dance, in order to be cool, must be done OUTDOORS in a PUBLIC PLACE where random onlookers may stumble upon it and be stunned. Hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT, and besides, no way will this attempt come anywhere near the over 12,000 who danced in Revolution Square in Mexico City on Michael Jackson’s August 29, 2009.
These people look more like they are into dressing up like ghouls than they are into dance, flash mobbing, or MJ. No precise movements. Sad.
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
4:26 pm
Meant to say “on Michael Jackson’s birthday, August 29, 2009.”
whataboutBob
September 8th, 2009
5:11 pm
Talk about missibg the point. It would probably be a waste of tme to point out the irony of using the terms lame or sad while trashing the earnest efforts of a large group of people bringing allthis together on short notice. And yes it is safe to say that a convention of 30,000+ people coming together to celebrate pop culture where many dress up in costumes, would indicate that they are into dressing up like ghouls.
Brian
September 8th, 2009
5:19 pm
The 12,000 in Mexico City did not count. They didn’t complete the dance, so it’s not going into the book. This dance was from start to finish, 4:49. And it doesn’t matter whether or not we had the most over all. We had more people in costume doing the dance than anyone who’s ever tried.
ps: there were 17 M.J.s in the crowd. THE M.J. that will be starring in the version sent to Guinness was up on stage with a group who knew it well.
How about you stop nay-saying and try to find 907 people to do it with you in some random open place. Don’t forget to invite Guinness to the party, I’ll applaud you if you get it done.
Charles
September 8th, 2009
5:22 pm
In a response to Ginny’s comment, I must say that as far as I understand it, the number of people is only a fraction of the equation of getting into the world records. Proper procedure must be followed and paperwork must be filed in order for the record to be awarded.
One more thing. As a Dragon*Con attendee, I can say that the costumes were encouraged to be worn during the dance, because that’s showing the spirit of Dragon*Con as well as having fun in the process. So to say those things about them only shows your ignorance. Please, don’t make fun of that which you don’t understand.
Also, best of luck to the people who were in the record attempt! I’m rooting for ya!
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
6:30 pm
Ok, good for them for doing it, but I still say outdoors in public places, where randomness, such as spectators, rain or police are possible, is superior.
aaron
September 8th, 2009
6:48 pm
To be fair..I agree with Ginny and I was there. But the Atlanta PD probably wouldn’t allow us to block off all of downtown Atlanta..But had we gone outside. We’d have had 2500+ dancing. So we went with what was allowed. You should also know some folks had 2 hours of training others only 30 minutes. Still, we look better than the William and Mary bunch by a mile.
Kat
September 8th, 2009
6:49 pm
Ginny…I would like to see you find a suitable large outdoor spot in downtown Atlanta that EVERYONE involved could easily get to that wouldn’t get the entire thing shut down by police or fire marshals. Speaking as one of the many who stayed in extremely cramped, hot corridors in the hotel in question for over 2 hours to learn the darned dance, I will not lie and say that I don’t take great offense to your rather petty comments. We didn’t have a huge breadth of options on where and made do with what we could rather nicely I thought.
Mike
September 8th, 2009
7:46 pm
The record we went for is the most number of people doing the dance in ONE place. Which is for the ENTIRE LENGTH of the song from the album (5min58secs). Not the radio version, and not the video version either. the paper work is being taking care of and months of preparation went into this.
One more thing, if I’m going for a world record, I don’t want cops or spectators coming up on it, getting in the way and messing it up either. Oh, wait a min, I am one of the people in that video and I can tell you it was a load of fun and one of the highlights of Dragon*Con.
Crystal
September 8th, 2009
8:03 pm
All I have to say is kudos to those who honored MJ and tried to break the record. I had friends in the dance and I think that anyone who bashes the attempt is the one who is lame. If I could have stayed for the entire Con I would have been right in the middle of it. GOOD JOB DRAGON CON DANCERS.
Hilary
September 8th, 2009
8:31 pm
For those of you wanting to belittle the huge effort it took at DragonCon to break this record, shame on you. There were those of us that did indeed practice for months in advance. I have to give a nod to those who were not that good, since most of those people signed up for this attempt watching us practice right before the event. This was not thrown together at the last minute, and hotel ballrooms do most certainly count. If you think you can do better, check out the Thrill the World website. I believe they are looking for participants for a new record attempt in October.
Lauren L.
September 8th, 2009
8:41 pm
Oh God, but I must admit, you’re soooo right about the whole ballroom nonsense. We should have been outside. Most definitely. “Hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT.” You know what? You’re so right. I do recall reading the Guinness guidelines and it must have just slipped my mind. Allow me to go get those and double check. Huh, you’re right. It says here right on page six:
“Rule IV: No dancing indoors. You look dumb. It should be outside, because dancing outside is far superior and wiser….Especially if you are competing for this dance world record in the southern states, specifically Georgia over Labor Day Weekend. If you do not follow this, your record attempt, regardless of how many people you have and how expert your dancing may be, hotel ballrooms DO NOT COUNT.”
Damnit. I really dropped the ball on this one. You’re absolutely right. I hate that I forgot that Guinness rule. Looks like all of that charity fundraising and having fun one afternoon was in vain. Which….is just quite a shame, considering that I spoke with Atlanta Police Department in June at length about doing it in the streets.
Oh, and, since we’re debating it: We’re so “sad” because we failed to have “precise movements” – but not only that, our attempt “DOES NOT COUNT” (I can’t forget the caps. Has to be in caps.) because we were indoors? And we didn’t have 12,000 people? Gosh. Because, by looking at Mexico, we really did fail. They were so sharp and so crisp. I mean, if I could sway about and clap for a little bit and be as PERFECT and sharp and precise as they are, then this would have been a much better video for you to watch while you sat at your computer picking your nose, realizing to yourself that you just wished you could leave you parent’s basement just long enough to be silly with your friends (assuming you have some) while raising money for charity.
Not to be cliche, but I feel as if I must say to you, Ginny, that your argument is… highly illogical.
Thanks for playing and have a wonderful, wonderful day. =D
Lauren
Nick
September 8th, 2009
9:20 pm
Checkmate. Sorry, but Lauren got you.
Until you’ve poured your heart into something, with so many other people doing the same, I highly doubt you’ll be able to truly read the previous post. This event is something that all 900+ involved will take with them for the rest of their lives, and never forget. Of course it wasn’t perfect, or in the perfect venue, or at optimum efficiency. But that’s the glory of being human. We aim high, hit lower than we thought we would, and love it all the same. Even now I’m hesitant to post that last sentence, with the feeling that to me, this event couldn’t have gone any better.
Thanks to the one who dreamed, the few who planned, and all who got involved.
–a team captain
jodi
September 8th, 2009
9:49 pm
I think we were courageous, not lame. You have to be really comfortable with yourself to dress in costume in front of thousands of people and dance a dance you stink at(me anyway as I can’t dance at all). It was something unique and fun to be involved in. I’m proud of all the DRAGON CON DANCERS. We rock! As for the naysayers, go back to your own limited world. I’m sure you are well known there.
Kimber
September 8th, 2009
9:53 pm
I started planning this back in May. I know more about getting into the Guinness record book than I should, and although the trendy “flash” dancing can be fun, this had to be controlled for our log book.
When you’ve spent four months organizing an event like this via the internet and phone calls, get over 900 people to learn a 6 minute dance, spend almost four hours of precious DragonCon time listening to me and my fellow organizers, directors from D*C, and our wonderful volunteer captains yell out dance steps and rules, dance in costume (did you see our Alien who came from England to attend the con and dance?), spend hours doing paperwork, blow out your knee/ankle/other body parts running between the Hyatt and Sheraton, and missing the whole con to make history, you get back with me, Ginny, and let me know how lame it is.
I spent over $1,000 to go to this con, which I LOVE, and gladly didn’t do much else except gather people, paperwork, and dancers. I missed every panel, Terry Gilliam, shopping, hanging with my friends, costuming…every wonderful nerdy, geeky thing that is DragonCon to bring this lame bit of history to a community I love and did so gladly because WE MADE HISTORY!
So what did you do this weekend?
Kimber — Organizer and Guinness paperwork monkey
Noey
September 8th, 2009
9:54 pm
I think Ginny sounds a bit bitter not to be a tweet-head that could have come upon our “little” flash mob. Too bad for her. Those Storm Troopers dancing for 6 minutes in full armor was a SIGHT to behold. We Rock on, Rock on, Rock on, Rock on- not to mention- grab pull in, punch punch punch down!
jodi
September 8th, 2009
9:54 pm
love you Lauren:) And all the great team captains including Nick.
jodi
September 8th, 2009
9:57 pm
Kimber you are great!! I applaud you. I had such a wonderful time;)
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
9:57 pm
Ok, I am sorry I dissed you guys. I applaud people doing this. I don’t live in Atlanta but I have been there once, so I am not super familiar with all the outdoor areas. Isn’t that big park that was built during the Olympics still there?
People putting effort into learning this dance and doing it together and having fun and showing spirit and recognizing the talent of Michael Jackson is due respect.
I guess I have just been partial to flash mobs, because of how they cause ripples in the reality of ordinary people.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3POhPkRf5A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ0OUIIsh70
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7G6EOM6rh0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqJBWY2WI9U
I take inspiration from the huge outdoor events around the world on August 29, including in front of the Eiffel Tower, near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Trafalgar Square in London, and the ones in Moscow and Mexico City.
You guys did a good job too.
I *am* training for Thrill the World on Oct. 25/24.
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
10:06 pm
P.S. And, according to my preference, I will be Thrilling the World at a large, outdoor, public event. It’s not about spectating for me — it’s about participating.
Thriller Fan
September 8th, 2009
10:15 pm
Cool thriller dance. Was there anyone named Billie Jean doing it?
Those that put them down but don’t bother to try it can beat it. http://www.thriller-michael-jackson.com
Teddi F
September 8th, 2009
10:22 pm
I was there and I thought it was a blast. Record or not, we all have the memories. ~FSM
Kimber
September 8th, 2009
10:23 pm
Good for you, Ginny. Many of us will be a part of Ines’ Thrill the World, too.
I believe, though, you have your language mixed up. Being outside doing a public event is for spectators, whereas what we did was just for participation since we couldn’t have spectators. You want to be watched, but we just wanted to be together in a history-making DragonCon event.
As far as why we had to do it like we did was because of Guinness’ guidelines, and we did not want to lose a record for a technicality. I think if you organize an event with TTW, you’ll see Ines is going to be just as particular. I’m still confused as to why you think it has to be outside, but then I guess you just don’t understand what we had to do for Guinness and almost 1,000 people.
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
10:40 pm
I’m a douchbagette
Patterson
September 8th, 2009
10:42 pm
Ginny, there really aren’t any words to say to you that haven’t been said already by Lauren, Kimber and a boat load of other people here. Having been the lead MJ on stage I’ve just got two words.
BEAT IT.
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
10:53 pm
It’s true — I would say that the besides learning the dance to perfection (to the degree I can) and the fun of doing it together with a mass of others, I am less interested in breaking a record than creating a phenomenon. It’s not so much about *me* being seen than the *event* being witnessed by the world.
Whether Thrill the World makes or breaks a record, I don’t care that much, but the fact that it happens is important to me.
That’s why I love what happened in Mexico City — whether it becomes the record or not.
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
11:02 pm
P.S. Noey I don’t use twitter and never have.
Also, I posted a comment here at 9:57 p.m. central time which is still “awaiting moderation” possibly because I included some youtube links. I guess you’ll all see it tomorrow. I am done here.
Ginny
September 8th, 2009
11:12 pm
P.S. I’m a douchbagette.
Ginnyisaloser
September 8th, 2009
11:43 pm
Ginny, you post on this for the past 6.5 hours? That’s lame! So you can realize how lame your life is and act like you are no longer reading this or sit and ponder a response. Either way you look like a fool.
Noey
September 8th, 2009
11:52 pm
Douchebagette… sounds kinda yummy. Assuming it is wrapped in chocolate and served with some Ice Cold water. Sorry Folks, still trying to re-hydrate from doing 4 hours of dancing!
Caren
September 9th, 2009
12:10 am
I would like to criticize Ginny’s comment for not being in haiku form. When trolling on the internet, haiku poetry is far superior for delivery of your point in cutting and stylish fashion.
That makes just as much sense as complaining that an organized world record attempt was not a random outdoors flash mob instead.
Also, re: Mexico, it looks like that crew had a lot of fun. But it was hardly a flash mob either! Their organizers had been recruiting people on Facebook for weeks, but simply failed to read up on GWR requirements.
Kimber
September 9th, 2009
12:15 am
I totally applaud Mexico, England, Barcelona, William and Mary, and DragonCon.
What all of us did was amazing, and even if Kevin from W&M is the only one to ever hold the record, I wouldn’t trade what we did this weekend for the world. What Ines is plotting for October is amazing, and I hope she gets her record and those of us that live in GA can find a central area and help her out.
You don’t live here so let me tell you how hot it is down here. We were in air conditioning and still sweating. An outdoor event that would embody the spirit of DragonCon, which a bunch of nerd dressing up in costumes, would cause heat stroke.
When I brought this up to D*C, I didn’t want just zombies dancing. I wanted the people that ARE DragonCon: Alien, Stormies, Darth, giant glove, cross-genre Captain Hammer, fairies, and everything else that make my “home” on Labor Day weekend truly Dragoncon.
Since it was a DragonCon event, it had to be on site, which is why we couldn’t go to Centennial. We had the cameras and sound system there at the ballroom so that’s where it happened. It was the first event D*C has ever had like this, so we learn, try new things, and hopefully we’ll do it even better next year.
I’m still thinking the gorilla suit wearing in one room record. We could have a gorilla ball one night, dress up our suits, and have us a party…all while breaking a record.
Lighten up on Ginny. She’s taken a step back to see we did what we did because we had to.
Ginny, just be ready for the ear worm…shuffle, back, hop, hop, forward, turn look, stare, stare, down ha, down ha, down ha…if you’re doing TTW, that is the most blessed and evil ear worm that lasts for days.
DW
September 9th, 2009
12:17 am
Anything and everything about Dragon Con rocks, there is no knocking the CON that’s why its the best party around its all positive and excellent FUN, enough said…..
whywelaughatdragoncon
September 9th, 2009
12:18 am
chill out dragoncon nerds
Jamie Gumbrecht
September 9th, 2009
1:19 am
Hey everybody, I appreciate the enthusiasm you’re bringing this conversation, but let’s keep this respectful and on-topic. This is a place for conversation, not anonymous insults. Thanks!
W.F.
September 9th, 2009
3:53 am
Ginny = Fail
W.F.
September 9th, 2009
4:03 am
JTK and Ginny are the last of a dyeing race of lamers and jock rednecks that are completely unaware of the hotties and parties that are Dragoncon. Which is fine, we don’t want you at our party anyways.
Patterson
September 9th, 2009
5:15 am
903 dancing virgins eh? Funny, in registration line they were passing out free condoms, and EVERYONE wanted one! Not a virgin in sight!
bbv
September 9th, 2009
6:05 am
I do not know about a “thriller dance record”, but I know they broke a record for “largest number of people gathered who have never been on a date”.
bbv
September 9th, 2009
6:20 am
just kidding, feeding the stereotype.Cool party
Debbie
September 9th, 2009
6:42 am
Ginny, They are more into dressing like gouls. IT’S DRAGON CON! Not a Michael Jackson festival. Although I do agree it was pretty lame and also should have been done a Woodruff, Piedmont or Centennial Park.
M.
September 9th, 2009
8:38 am
Three of my friends were at DragonCon this weekend, in fact one of them is in the first video at the top of the page dancing (she’s also in one of the pictures). It looks like they had fun, including the giant silver hand… Wish I could have been there.
They look pretty coordinated for being a group of 900 and some people, lol.
anon
September 9th, 2009
9:44 am
@Ginny
This is at a convention. the only space outside is in the middle of the streets of Atlanta. I mean they could, but I’m sure the police that are already trying to control the mass of 30,000 people between the 4 hotels would stop them promptly.
Megi
September 9th, 2009
9:50 am
@JTK Lol, wow, virgins huh? You must not know anything about this little con of ours at all… or what happens at night… Or maybe you’ve heard about the parties and are just sad that we would never let someone like you come close to touching any of us. I mean, you do realize a large percentage of Dragon*Con attendees are really hot women wearing leather or super revealing costumes, right? Oh, I guess not…
@ Pretty much everyone else, you all rule! I was unfortunately too busy as staff to join you all and will forever be jealous! You all rock!
Ry
September 9th, 2009
10:39 am
We rocked
We rocked HARD!
(Some of us old folks hurt body parts)
I was next to Storm (Marvel Comics), 4 bodies to the left of me was Alien rocking the dance floor, Super Mario wasn’t far away, and the Stormtroopers…IN FULL ARMOR…amazing.
Links to Thriller training were available online, but I think most of us took advantage of the 2 training sessions held in hallways & meeting rooms, taught by volunteers (we had MJ himself…if you read this, you were GREAT) who were as excited as we were. Hotel air conditioning systems couldn’t keep up with the thousand of us training, training, training. (”Shoulder-step-shoulder-shoulder”)
stepping on each other
(”walk walk roar-turn roar-turn roar-turn”)
laughing hysterically, sweating and giving it all we had to learn our part and be a part of this attempt.
For the rest of my life I’ll remember the browncoats bustin’ a move, Progressive’s Flo in her white outfit shakin’ it down and Michael Jackson up on stage thrillin’ us all
…and to all the haters, I agree with Patterson…BEAT IT!
Ry
September 9th, 2009
10:48 am
Debbie,
hun, seriously…have you ever tried a very physical activity…outdoors…literally for hours? It took a solid 2-3 hours of practice/practice/practice…then ANOTHER practice session before the attempt (would have been 2 practices, but we were so psyched after the first we went for it). Also, none of the parks were on *Con grounds.
I think all of us would have preferred more elbow room, but the rules were the rules.
Tammie
September 9th, 2009
12:21 pm
To all who were a part of the Dragon*Con event, y’all looked great! I’m really proud of our little *Con family coming together to have fun and honor the man himself. Anyone who’s never attended something like Dragon*Con really can’t be blammed for how they see us as an outsider. I hope some day those of you who’re putting all of us down, can attend and see the spectical for your selves.
And also speaking as a D*C Security Team member, getting that many people to do ANYTHING in a large group is pretty amazing! We’re all entitled to our opinions, and that’s what makes this a great place to live; Where else can 30,000 people come together to celebrate their “Inner Geek”, honor “The King Of Pop”, AND have others shake their heads in disbelief at us all…and no one be killed or sent to prison over it?
So, speak out if you must and don’t feel ashamed of who you are! I’m proud to say that the lead MJ, aka Patterson, is one of my dearest friends; I’m also thankful that there are people out there who’re confidant enough to point out to us how silly we are…that’s what makes it fun!!
Leffy
September 9th, 2009
12:50 pm
i missed most of D*C despite having a membership this year due to sitter emergencies (did make it for a couple hours friday!) and missing this especially has left me heartbroken out of all the scheduled events. are we doing it again next year? even without the joy of a world record attempt, i would SO love to do this! heck just showing my daughter the video she caught on to a couple moves, so i might even drag her along for more then the parade and the costumes and art!
Tony Gowell
September 9th, 2009
1:08 pm
Yes. We will be doing this again, and other comparable scifi/fantasy attempts as we discover them.
Asst Director
Main Programming
Dragon*Con
Candy
September 9th, 2009
1:38 pm
I was there and it was really something amazing to participate in! Thanks to all the volunteers and everyone who put this together. Can’t wait to do it again next year.
If you weren’t there, then you just don’t understand the amount of work, effort and practice the whole event took!
Momma D @ 3princessesmomma.com
September 9th, 2009
2:25 pm
My daughter was part of this. She was so excited, and it was one of the high points of her first Dragon*con experience.
Thanks to the organizers!
WERKIN FOR A LIVIN
September 9th, 2009
2:56 pm
looks like nerds dont like critcisem
Lil'Az
September 9th, 2009
4:05 pm
I was working it; blocking a light tower because people kept running into it.
It was fun, even for the short time I was there.
If we attempt it next time, I’m definitely taking time out of my busy shifts to actually participate.
=D
btpsmom
September 9th, 2009
4:41 pm
Ginny, I think you are a jerk.
Irma
September 9th, 2009
4:59 pm
Don’t even tell me this won’t count! I have never learned a dance routine in 3 hrs! I had “Evie” as my instructor and even though I danced into the pillar infront of the elevator (I was the one dressed as Dorothy), I would totally do this all over again! (with a change of clothes though…)
Kimber
September 9th, 2009
5:22 pm
@Tony — Yes, yes we are. I say let’s out record Mexico! Go nerds!!
And I have to ROFLMAO off on the “virgin” comment. Um, yea, google for some pics and you’ll see why the kids are put to bed early and we have a track called DragonCon After Dark.
I’m already plotting for next year.
I just hope my crew from this year will be with us again.
Amanda
September 9th, 2009
6:57 pm
I also participated in the Thriller record attempt at Dragon*Con. Regardless of what the results are, I feel bonded to the other 902 people who participated as we worked our butts off to learn that dance. It was a great tribute to MJ, and I will never forget it! Nobody has the right to rain on that, nor can they because it was just too monumental to be destroyed by one whiny individual.
aaron
September 9th, 2009
9:48 pm
Yes, Ginny is uninformed. But she is allowed her opinions.
Me? I would have loved to have done it ourdoors. But we didn’t. No big deal. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. If you look in that video I would hazard that very few are trained dancers and some of us look like we have no clue on what we are doing. Especially me…I’m the uncoordinated dork with the white pith helmet and Jumanji outfit. (Just my luck. The bit of footage with me in it is the bit of the dance that our instructor didn’t get around to teaching. Oh well, fake it till you make it.)
But, I had great time. It was hot. It was humid. It was frustrating at times. But most of all it was fun. Lots and Lots of fun. Which is what this was about for me.
I forgive the unknowing for their bashing of D*C. The poor fools know not what they are missing. Unless you’ve been, it’s like describing the sky to a blind person. Virgins? heh… until they’ve had a gorgeous girl in a Slave Leia outfit (Or insert suitable male refence for you wonderful women, here) drag them to a hotel room and commit unspeakable sin with them. You haven’t lived..
To them we’re a bunch of silly nerds that have no lives and live in our parent basements.
To us? These people are of the worst ilk and I label them with the worst insult I could pin upon a person….
Normal
and I pity them….how boring life must be…
To Kimber and the crew…Kudos for your vision and tenacity. You are all models and visionaries. Thank you for allowing us to join you in your journey I am truly honored.
(Ps… the dang ear worm is still in my head… roarturn,roarturn…)
Christine
September 9th, 2009
11:06 pm
And don’t forget the booty, bounce…booty, bounce!
Christine
September 9th, 2009
11:17 pm
Kimber, forgot to say thank you for organizing this. My brother and I participated and it was a blast. If you try this or something else next year, you have your first volunteer. Anyone who can pull this off is someone I want to work with. Oh yeah, and booty, bounce…booty, bounce.
ss
September 10th, 2009
7:07 am
mj never dies.he is still alive.beleave me, its true.
ss
September 10th, 2009
7:11 am
if u respect our king mj,HEEL THE WORLD,MAKE IT BETTER PLACE.our spirits never die.
Bob
September 10th, 2009
10:56 am
Ginny, Ginny, Ginny…
Sad is the fact that you think you have the right to tell a thousand people how and where to BREAK A WORLD RECORD.
Sad is the fact that you feel you have to bring other people down via the anonymity of the internet.
Sad is the fact that you weren’t involved in something this awesome.
Buh-Bye, now.
Bob
Bob
September 10th, 2009
11:12 am
Ginny.
I have to apologize to you. I responded to the thread without reading it first and as a participant in this event I’m a bit protective of it.
I’m glad that you finally saw our point and what we were trying to do.
THere are a few others on here that need to possibly attend Dragon*Con and see what a giant party it is for themselves before dismissing us as nerds and virgins.
Besides. Nerds are hot.
Bob
Caren
September 10th, 2009
3:17 pm
haha, LilAz, you must have been near me. The ones in the front had very little room to dance because the first move is four steps to the front! Having you there made it easier for us to take little steps though because the people behind us stopped pushing up once you came over.
also, I owe Ginny an apology too for not seeing the later notes. Just as a side note, a true flash mob Thriller (as opposed to a GWR attempt!) would be easier for you to assemble once you have a large pool of people who know the choreography…just sayin’!
mama sue
September 10th, 2009
8:23 pm
i wish i could have been there. i missed all of you and the con. looks like you had fun tho.
Hilary
September 10th, 2009
8:49 pm
Go Nerds indeed! Talk about a wild party! I’ll have that choreography stuck in my head for years!
“Right hip, right hip, right hip, in, out, left hip, left hip, left hip in and ROAR!”
Salem
September 11th, 2009
3:05 am
To my fellow D*C peeps: AMAZING JOB!!!! I had to leave for a few hours Sunday so I couldn’t be in the event, but I was bragging about it to all sorts of people! I’m linking this video all over the place to show folks what this group can do.
Breaking the world record? It couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of people.
To all the haters and naysayers: Back off. You obviously have never been remotely close to D*C or else you would realize your statements are utterly and completely false. (e.g joking that all 903 of those people have never been on dates. I personally know at least a dozen married couples that danced, and that’s not even the start of that)
And you know what? We *are* nerds. Not geeks. Know why? “Nerds are smart.” Beat it.
Theresa
September 11th, 2009
7:03 am
Sadly, the enormous group that danced in Mexico danced the short version of the song- therefore, while impressive did not qualify for the Guinness world record.
Joe
September 11th, 2009
9:18 pm
As a 59 year old participant (proof available upon request for both age and participation), I would love to say thank you to Kimber and the dance captains for herding us toward a great time. Shoulder step, nothing step, shoulder step, shoulder step. Went to Michael’s today and got a shadow box for my DragonCon badge and thriller ribbon. Used a piece of my costume as the background. Come on, folks. Come up with ways to secure this memory for yourselves as well.
timeandtide
September 12th, 2009
11:35 pm
Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dragon Con rocks. This was my first year attending although I’ve wanted to go for years but had not had the opportunity. I didn’t get to dance but I think the people that did were just great. I had the best time I’ve had in a long time and plan to make it back next year hopefully for the full four days. And yes I am called a geek or a nerd by my fellow co-workers but you know what. I’m proud of it. I’d rather not be normal, It’s too boring.
JJ
September 13th, 2009
8:50 pm
I am responding to the Ginny; September 8th, 2009; 4:23 pm post.
I don’t think we could have done this outdoors without a lot of additional precautions. The space had to be closed off so that the dancers entering the dance space could be counted. There was a LOT of prep done before anyone was allowed to enter the room and during the process of getting dancers into the space.
It was also hard for anyone past the first couple rows to display their dance skills because each person was approximately 2 feet away from the next person in any direction.
I am also not completely sure on this, but I think that the Thriller dance records may have indoor and outdoor categories. Anyone else know?
I do know that there were a lot of specifics and a lot of paperwork to take care of in coordination with Guinness.
Official Dragon*Con ‘Thriller’ dance video released | Inside Access
September 15th, 2009
4:01 pm
[...] those left wondering the videos in last week’s post, “Dragon*Con ‘Thriller’ dancers might break world record,” were shot by the AJC during the performance and participants during [...]
‘Thriller’ dance record goes to Mexico, not Dragon*Con | Inside Access
September 22nd, 2009
3:06 pm
[...] wrote about the Dragon*Con “Thriller” dance earlier, but you can see the differences in the dances [...]