GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS

Austinites try to break 'Thriller' world record

800 people smeared with fake blood writhe around

By Claire Osborn
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, October 26, 2008

Grandparents, parents and children writhed on the pavement. Dressed as zombies and smeared with fake blood, they crouched, glided, slithered and gleefully shook it as music boomed from loudspeakers.

They were among the more than 800 people who tried to break a world record Saturday by dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" outside the Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Henri Mazza, a zombie-for the day and creative director at the Alamo Drafthouse, stood on a stage coordinating the effort. "Don't forget to strike your last pose," he said to lines of people standing in front of him in wigs and tattered clothes.

Ashley Messer, 27, came wearing her mother's wedding dress, which she had torn up for the occasion. Her mother, Celeste Messer, also smeared with fake blood, was with her. "My wedding dress already had some stains so someone should get some use out of it," she said.

Mayor Will Wynn, costumed modestly in a tie-dye shirt and shorts, watched most of the dance from the side before jumping in during the last minute. "I only know about 20 seconds of it," he said. "This is just keeping Austin weird and letting the citizens enjoy themselves."

Austinites won't know for more than a month whether they broke a Guinness world record for the largest simultaneous dance in one location, said organizer Shawn Sides.

The dance coincided with other "Thriller" dances in 92 cities in 12 countries, she said. Collectively, the cities are also trying to break a record for the world's largest simultaneous dance, she said.

The day brought back fond memories for 33-year-old Nicole Schuessler.

"I learned to skate backwards to this when I was 8 years old," she said.

cosborn@statesman.com; 445-3871