Teresa Osborn

Thrill The World is an annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson's Thriller. This year of course, the event has special poignancy, and is being promoted as a tribute to the late Michael Jackson. In the USA, Thriller is going to take place on October 24th 2009. It’s great opportunity for you to promote dance to your students, and perhaps get your school to participate in this worldwide event.

The website http://www.thrilltheworld.com provides lots of information about the actual event. If you are interested in participating you should check with your State to learn the time that the performance will take place. In Seattle, for example it is 5:30pm. With people all over the world dancing at the same time, the goal is to establish a participation record for the Guinness book of world records. The event was first held in 2006 through the efforts of Ines Markeljevic, the Creator & Director of Thrill The World. Ines’ goal was to get communities together and connect the world through experiencing the joy of dance.

2007 marked the 25th anniversary of the release of the Thriller album. The video remains extremely popular and has brought together people together from all over the world. And the good news is that you don’t have to be a highly skilled dancer to join in the fun. Your students can learn the steps that will help them become stars at the next Halloween party.

The Thrill the World website has all the information you require to organize an event or join one in your area. The dance notes for Thriller can be downloaded, and you can also order the DVD on line. You are expected to have the correct music version of Thriller. This information is also available on the site and comes in many different speeds, with and without cueing, so you can build up the dance gradually, and step-by-step in your classes.

I am also attaching a detailed lesson plan that I have created to teach elementary aged students the steps to Thriller. But whatever ages you teach you might find these notes a useful instructional tool to support the visuals you can get from the Thrill the World web site.

This annual event offers a wonderful opportunity for PE teachers all over America (and the world) to teach dance in schools. And if you decide not to do it this year, make a note to schedule the event in 2010. I’ve found that students of all ages are very excited to take part in such a major event and the opportunity to dress in costumes makes it even more appealing.

Check out the Thrill the World web site, download my lesson, and let me know what you think. Like many others, I grew up on Michael Jackson's music so to me this is an awesome tribute!

This year, I will be teaching the Thriller dance at several AAHPERD state conferences including Washington State on October 16th, Vermont on November 13th, New Hampshire November 19th and Connecticut November 20th. I am also organizing an event in Redmond WA. You might be interested in checking out my website www.redmondzombies.com . If you are in the area, I will be holding workshops to teach the dance and these are open to everyone. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Teresa Osborn
NWD Dance Rep of AAHPERD
teresa@teresaosborn.com
425 861 6729

Teresa is a dance lecturer, teacher trainer, instructor, and author. She has taught dance to children and adults for 28 years, specializing in a broad range of dance ranging from Hip Hop, Disco, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Swing, Salsa, Latin (Rhythm), Ballroom (Smooth) and C&W Line & Couples Dancing. Teresa is a member of AAHPERD, has presented at national and state conferences, and is presently the NW District Dance representative.

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