THRILLERFEST 2009: Thrill the World at Seaholm Power Plant!
Last year, we had 881 zombies join us on the plaza at the Long Center to help set a World Record for the most people dancing the Thriller choreography at the same time and place. This year, Mexico City took the same place record from us with over 13,000 dancers, but we’re going to help take the same time record back on October 24 when we’ll join dancers all over the world and do the same dance at the same time and bring the planet together in one brief moment of shining Roar Turns.
We’re making this year’s event bigger and more bad ass than last year as well, and instead of just dancing once and then calling it a day, we’re going to have a full-fledged party.
It’s all going down on Saturday, October 24th at Seaholm Power Plant. We’ll have a dance lesson for anyone who hasn’t learned it yet starting at 5pm, we’ll join the world in Thriller at 8pm sharp, and then after that we’ll be using our Rolling Roadshow rig to bring Austin the first outdoor screening of our ever-popular Michael Jackson Sing-Along! It will be a full on dance party with props, lighting, and everything you’ll need to not stop until you get enough.
Now, all of this exciting news does come with a little bit of a catch – last year’s dance event was free, but this year with it being on a Saturday night and all of the added expenses at Seaholm we’re going to have to charge an entry fee. It will be worth every cent, of course, and at $15 it’s only a few dollars more expensive than a general Michael Jackson Sing-Along, but I wanted to let you know that upfront. You can secure your spot at this epic historic moment by purchasing your ticket now at our show page for the event, right here.
There are also several other lessons happening before the big day, because we want to make sure that Austin is the BEST performance in the world. Those lessons are all 100% free, and you can choose to learn at either the Highball (1142 South Lamar Blvd) or BodyBusiness (2700 W Anderson Lane).
The schedule of Thriller dance lessons at The Highball is as follows:
Monday, October 12 – 7pm
Tuesday, October 13 – 7pm
Saturday, October 17 – 2pm
Sunday, October 18 – 2pm
Tuesday, October 20 – 7pm
Wednesday, October 21 – 7pm
Saturday, October 24 – 11am
Feel free to come out to just one lesson or come back to each and every one and keep rehearsing with us. All of the lessons will be absolutely free, but you should expect to have it down after one or two full lessons. Each lesson will last between two to three hours.
You can start learning up north if you join up with the class at BodyBusiness, which is on Anderson Lane facing the Alamo Village across the parking lot. Their schedule is as follows:
October 16th & 23rd @ 5:30pm
October 9th & 23rd @ 10:30am
You don’t need to be a member of the gym to participate, and you can sign up at the front desk or by calling 459-9424.
Once you know the dance, you can come out and rehearse with us at Seaholm on the 24th, then enjoy the full on party! Again, tickets for all this insanity are available now, right here.
October 12th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Please double-check the timing for Austin – Houston’s site says that the actual dance will be at 7:30pm on Saturday, October 24, 2009 (http://www.thrilltheworldhouston.com/pages/event_info.html) and Los Angeles’ site states 5:30pm Pacific time (http://www.thrilltheworldlosangeles.com/practice-event-schedule/). Also, New York City’s site states 8:30 Eastern (http://www.manada.biz/ttw09.nyc.html). We don’t want Austin to miss the dance with the rest of the world!
October 12th, 2009 at 10:02 pm
please double-check your timing – Houston starts at 7:30pm Central and Los Angeles is starting at 5:30pm Pacific and New York City is starting at 8:30pm Eastern. We wouldn’t want Austin to miss the dance with the rest of the world!
October 17th, 2009 at 7:14 am
this is going to cost money this year? seriously…you are charging for this? that is ridiculous and disapointing. hope you weren’t planning on breaking any records then. alamo…you are going downhill, and i don’t like it.
October 17th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I agree. I understand charging to attend the dance party, but $15 to participate in a 6 minute dance? Especially since some places are dancing for charities…. sorry, Austin, my friends and I are out. Looks like we won’t be in the Guiness book again this year.
October 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Totally agree that there should not be a charge at $15. If your trying to raise money….then ask for donations, but don’t make it a fee to get in. We (Austin) want to be able to do these kinds of fun things and make it into the “records” but not by charging folks to do so.
Really disappointed here….hmmm
October 18th, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Yeah, not to be a jerk, I mean, I can afford $15, no big deal, but this really kinda takes the fun out of it. The great thing last year was that it was this huge community event and there were little kids and elderly people as well as hipsters and such. It really felt like we as individual participants were helping create the event. I think this really puts the kibosh on that aspect of it. I really think that this is not going to work out very well and, if it doesn’t, please don’t think that everyone lost interest, maybe just try something a little closer to the spirit of last year’s Thrill the World. Sorry to say, I’m not going this year – just doesn’t sound as fun.
October 19th, 2009 at 5:06 am
I, too, would like to express my disappointment. I suppose I can understand charging an entrance fee to offset the costs of using the facility for several hours, and fifteen dollars sounds like a fair enough price for people who would like to attend the singalong, but fifteen bucks is way steep for the people who just want to show up for the dance. And I suspect that the entrance fee will also eliminate most of the people who simply wish to spectate the dance (I recall that there were quite a few spectators roaming around last year). Don’t get me wrong, 15 bucks ain’t gonna keep me from enjoying a great photographic opportunity, but I just hope that the attendance isn’t too severely stinted by the entrance fee.
October 19th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
I was really pumped about attending this year, but when I saw that there was a fee it somewhat changed my mind. It’s a little disappointing to see that you have a put a fee on something this year that was absolutely free last year. Not to say $15 is too much, but I personally was going just for the fun of the dance. If the “lights and location” is really that expensive, lets just do it at the long center again.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
folks, did you not read that a portion goes to “Scare for a Cure”.
October 19th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Hey for everyone that doesn’t want to pay to do the Thriller again this year, the Mexic-Arte Museum is including Thriller Zombies as part of thier Dia de los Muertos parade. The parade’s on the same day as Thrill the World and starts about the same time. Go to this website:
http://www.mexic-artemuseuminfo.org/retailer/articles/ret_articles.asp?storeID=A966F695BB0649D4990A0E1555A88126&MenuID=898
click on Procession Registration Form
Register no later than Thursday October 24th, dress like a zombie, and do the dance again for FREE!
October 19th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Just to echo the first post from Parul, the Thrill the World website does indeed say 7:30 pm for Houston (not 8). I’m sure you’ve figured this out by now, but just in case…we don’t want Austin to be behind everyone else.
October 20th, 2009 at 7:05 pm
kathi-yes i realize it says a ‘portion’ goes towards something good. but that could mean only $1 goes. i would rather not pay the alamo and just give the $15 to scare for a cure.
October 21st, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Kids, elderly, and just about everyone was there last year, now your going to charge $15… I can not afford it so unfortunately I will not be able to join… I am thinking all the people who do not want to pay just meet at last years spot or another public space…
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:45 pm
Hey guys,
Anybody have any idea how long the party should go???
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:57 am
If there is a cover charge of $15 does that mean there will be a bar??? And how big is this power plant exactly…I don’t want to be mushed between sweaty people all night….=(
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Wow. I was all excited about this, and trying to recruit friends to go with me. Isn’t this supposed to be about the community and keeping Austin wierd? I’m totally bummed. Why do we have to go to an afterparty in order to participate in the dance? I think we should plan an alternate location where people can meet for free.
October 24th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
I think charging for entry is also too high. I wanted to ask friends to come watch, but don’t think they can justify paying the $15 for a 6 minute dance. Switch back to the Long Center next year please!
October 24th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
I was excited and recruiting friends and went to the thriller dance lessons… Now knowing it’s $15 dollars to dance I am not going. I have to work early like 6am. Sorry Alamo.
December 5th, 2009 at 11:49 am
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May 24th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I just love to do ballroom dancing specially during my free times. dancing is my passion.~`:
June 9th, 2010 at 10:22 am
Great post, thank you for sharing with us.