Zombies to Invade OC on Saturday

About 100-200 OC zombies will stagger into the Atomic Ballroom
in Irvine and Placentia to be a part of Thrill the World, where
55 cities around the world will simultaneously dance to Michael
Jackson's "Thriller". (image via OC Register)

Did you know that there is something called Thrill the World that annually coordinates a simultaneous dance across the world to Michael Jackson's "Thriller"? More importantly, did you know that Orange County will be included when this occurs on Saturday?

Held at the Atomic Ballroom in Irvine and Placentia, the event will be a true celebration, beginning at 4 pm with zombie make-up opportunities (requires a donation of $5-$20), and food (Vampire blood soup anyone?). To see or be included in the event, the cost is $2 a person.

When you think about it, that's a pretty cheap price to take part in something that will be taking place in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Romania, Scotland, England, Russia, Turkey, as well as the U.S. The current record stands at 22,571 from 2009, when 264 cities from 33 countries participated in the event. This year, Atomic Ballroom is estimating that about 100-200 Orange County zombies will heed the call and rise from the dead to join the fun.

In an interview with the Orange County Register, Daniel Klock, a dance instructor at the Atomic Ballroom in Placentia, explained, "This dance is fun and everyone can do it. Once you break down the steps, it's pretty easy. Michael (Jackson) just has a style that makes it look difficult."

The Atomic Ballroom had offered classes on the choreography earlier in the week, but you can still manage to learn the moves from watching tutorials on the Thrill the World website.

Thrill the World began in 2006 and has since then used the money it raised to donate more than $100,000 and hundreds of pounds of food to over 80 charities.

What: Thrill the World Project
When: Saturday, October 29th
Time: 4 - 6 pm (actual dance starts at 6)
Where: Atomic Ballroom, in Irvine and Placentia