A dead prom queen on the right of the room, superman with a bullet hole on the left and a horde of convicts gathered near a window. This wasn’t a surreal nightmare, but the holding room for Vancouver’s Thrill The World event.
Yaletown Roundhouse Community Centre played host to 286 zombies, on Saturday, as part of an annual re-creation of Michael Jackson’s thriller dance for charity. Each year, in the lead up to Halloween, dancers gather across the globe in an attempt to break the world record for the most people taking part in a synchronised dance. It also raises money for local charities.
Participants relax before final rehearsals begin
A new concept to me, but the event has been growing since its inauguration in Toronto in 2006, sweeping more cities worldwide each year, with 33 nations competing in 2009. Last year’s event broke the world record, and formed a fitting tribute to the late Michael Jackson, who died in June of the same year. Organisers are tallying up this year’s attendance to see if the zombies have beaten last year’s total of 22,571 dancers. Regardless Vancouver has managed to break their city record for the most attendees, and raised over $2,500 for Vancouver Food Bank.
Morgan McCallum undergoes a zombie make-over with students from Vancouver Film School
Not for the faint hearted – dancers attend choreography classes in the weeks leading up to the performance, and arrive at the venue early in the morning, ready to become a character of their choice. The creativity and meticulous planning that goes into costumes is overwhelming. See for yourself:
Getting the makeup just right, can lead to winning costumes
And Vancouver Film School were on hand to assist in the zombiefications
Special Effects make up artist Susan puts the finishing touches to Kirsty McMahon's zombie look
Many other looks were created by friends and fellow dancers
The performers in position, the audience ready, the beat begins
The media watch on as the dance gets underway
Attending the event with Samsung Mobilers – Vansung. A video of the day, shot with the new Samsung Galaxy Vibrant is on it’s way, so the thriller fun for 2010 is not yet complete.
Rick Chung
October 27, 2010
Cool. Sad I missed it. Reminds me of Vancouver Zombiewalk :: http://j.mp/zomwalk
lizkearsley
October 27, 2010
Next year Rick, it’s sure to keep getting bigger. It was the make up that really made it! Tremendous.
Rr. DirAurora
March 16, 2011
Like IT!!!!