In 1982, Michael Jackson shook the music world when "Thriller" was released. The best-selling album was added in 2007 to the National Recording Registry of Library of Congress, which is designed to "preserve the nation's aural history." The famed 14-minute music video for the album's title track inspired many to learn do "The Thriller." The dance is complicated and fairly difficult to master, but a little practice will enable any MJ fan to master the moves.
Instructions
1. Practice the dance with the aid of a video. "Thrill the World" is likely the easiest aid for beginning dancers because it a step-by-step method (see Resources). More advanced dancers may prefer to learn the dance straight from the music video, variations of which can be found at sites like YouTube.
2. Practice marching in place and jutting your head to the left on every four count, as though you've got a bad crick in your neck. Place your palms together for a breaststroke motion, as if you're swimming through the air. The best way to learn the dance is to master these basic moves first. Make sure there is ample floor space to work with, as this combination has a lot of movement and requires walking and covering quite a bit of ground.
3. Place your arms straight up to clap over your head. Push your left leg as far out as possible. With knees bent, drag your right leg so your feet meet. This part is a bit tricky to master, so pay close attention to the video. Repeat on the other side. Place your hands in a clawed position, with one arm above the other and move from side to side. Walk like an Egyptian, then repeat on the other side.
4. Place your feet shoulder-width apart and take several clockwise steps with your left foot only to turn your body 180 degrees. Walk with your feet shoulder-width apart, hands on slightly bent knees. With your feet forward, wave your right arm back and forth in the air--your fingers should be together, as if you're spray-painting a wall.
5. Drink lots of water during the dance. The moves are high energy and can be draining. Once you master the basic moves, watch the tutorial or music video to aid in making the dance cohesive. A video will help you pull the entire act together and fill in the blanks. Remember, there are few things more fun than actually knowing the steps when "Thriller" blares from the speakers at a nightclub.
