On Saturday October 24, 2009 117 people in Bennington joined dancers in over 200 other towns and cities around the world in a worldwide simultaneous dancing of Michael Jackson’s Thriller. The total number of dancers worldwide (22,596) beat the existing world record.

Thrill Bennington would not have been possible without the help and talents of many people and my thanks go out to them:

The Town of Bennington and the Rec. Center for allowing the dance classes to be a Rec. Center program which allowed Thrill Bennington to use the firehouse facility and offer the classes free of charge to the community.

The Better Bennington Corporation for it’s sponsorship and support of the event and especially to John Shannahan who jumped through hoops to organize an indoor site for the dance at the last minute.

To Kim Turner and the SVMC Wellness Connection who embraced and promoted the idea as a fun way to encourage community members to get active.

To Judi Estes and Lori Stewart, also Mary Steadman and Mary Ryan as well as other Thrill Bennington alumni who taught the dance.

To Rich Ryder who brought all his talents, his enthusiasm (and his DJ equipment!) to provide the music for the event.

To Alicia Romac (Legacy Images of Vermont) who videoed the dance which was imperative for the documentation and produced a commemorative DVD, the sales of which benefit the Bennington Food and Fuel Fund.

To Lindalee Hayden for taking documenting photographs.

To Tim Corcoran and Chris Oldham for being official witnesses to the event.

To the willing band of helpers at the classes and the event especially Kathy Hayden who organized the record keeping and was my number one helper, Terri Bullington who calmly handled the registrations at the event and Rick Havlak and Rudge Canning who stepped up to assist John Shannahan with the set up of the indoor space.

To Willy’s Variety who provided cookies for the dancers at the run-through session.

To Mount Anthony Union High School who allowed us to use the cafeteria space at the last minute and members of the public, family and friends who came to support the dancers.

To all those other people who were instrumental in the effort that I’ve been remiss in not naming here.

And finally to the 117 dancers who traveled from as far away as Burlington, Vermont and Greenfield, Mass. to take part in the event. Without them there would have been no Thrill Bennington 09!

Lin Bootle

Email ttw09bennington@gmail.com

Watch our official video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La_E1MmSrjw

For information on the world wide event go to www.thrilltheworld.com

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