As the weather gets just a bit cooler, it marks the arrival of “spooky season.”
And the Thrill The Villages dance troupe has brought some good-natured fright to Florida’s Friendliest Hometown and surrounding communities with their act this autumn.
The local dance group is a part of Thrill the World, a global organization of dance teams that perform Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” dance routine on the same day at the same time all around the world, always the Saturday before Halloween.
This year’s major dance party was held on Oct. 26 at Brown & Brown Farms, 13940 US 301, Oxford.
“People love ‘Thriller,’ Halloween and dressing up. It gives adults a legitimate opportunity to dress up as zombies and enjoy the fun that kids enjoy on Halloween,” said Bonnie Stein, founder and lead zombie instructor for Thrill The Villages.
“We can feel (that joy) from our audiences as well as our dancers.”
Stein, who has been a part of the organization since 2008, started The Villages dance troupe in 2020, after her original troupe, the St. Petersburg Thriller group, canceled their performances.
On its fourth year in The Villages, the Thrill The Villages has more than 200 active dancers who perform with the troupe.
The group has more than doubled in size every year since it began in 2020 with only 10 zombies.
“Last year, we had 100 zombies. This year we have had up to 287 in practice sessions and a final 214 that performed,” Stein said. “When people see us perform, they want to join us the following year. That’s how many zombies have come on board.”
That’s the way that Karen Walz, executive zombie and co-leader of the dance troupe, joined the group.
After seeing them perform in 2020 at a driveway party, she was hooked.
“When they said there was a sign-up to join for next year she couldn’t get to it fast enough,” Stein said. “Especially when they said you did not have to have a dance background, as she had no experience in group dancing besides your basic line dances.”
While the troupe continues to grow, it also works hard to maintain the crisp dance moves fans have come to expect from the group.
“What stays consistent is how the dance is taught. We break it down step by step, move by move. We teach them how to do their own zombie makeup and how to create zombie outfits,” Stein said.
Though the dance stays consistent, there have been small tweaks made and new challenges to overcome each year.
“Every year is a new and exciting challenge. With our massive growth of new zombies, we outgrew the medium rec centers and now have three regional rec centers for practice each week,” she said.
And the troupe’s practice pays off.
When it’s time to dance, the performers are able to push their jitters aside and allow excitement and anticipation to take over once the music starts.
“When the first note of ‘Thriller’ sounds, the crowd goes wild,” Walz said. “They love to see us perform and start clapping. That just motivates me to perform at my absolute best.”
Stein agreed that the music and their dance moves are enough to get the crowds moving, but she also feels
the six-minute aerobic dance gets the dancers’ hearts pumping, too.
“This age group remembers seeing Thriller performed on MTV,” Stein said. “Our dancers have so much fun during the season, we don’t want October to end. They have told us about the physical changes — weight loss, more energy, becoming more fit, more flexible — as well as more knowledgeable about their health and fitness.”
The group’s energy engages crowds, but it’s their attention to small details that impresses them most.
“Our fans are very supportive and appreciative of our performances. They will come up to us and compliment us on our zombie persona, specific moves and group precision,” Stein said. “When we are wearing our ‘Thriller’ shirts in public people recognize them and will ask where we are performing.”
For thrill-seekers who want to see more of the group, Thrill The Villages dance troupe started a website to make information about the troupe, including their schedule of performances, more accessible for audience members.
Don’t miss the dance troupe’s free and final performance of the year 5 p.m. Halloween night at Spanish Springs Square, 1120 Main St.
For more information about the dance troupe, visit thrill thevillages.com.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com
