A dozen children of varying dance abilities had their chance to perform their rendition of "Thriller" on stage at Island Center Halloween night.
There was the little guy up front at center stage stealing the show with his moves, and the shy girl off to one side hardly moving. The "Thriller" video by Michael Jackson was the backdrop at the first Thriller Dance Night children’s Halloween party.
The night was promoted as a dance night for anyone with abilities/special abilities, but the general public was invited to get into Michael Jackson form.
"I thought this would be a wonderful thing for special-needs children," said organizer Diane Hampton. "This is their chance to get on stage and shine."
Hampton, the new disability program navigator for the Department of Labor, said it was her way of kicking off her new job. She helps employers understand the benefits of hiring and giving opportunities to disabled people.
"This is fabulous tonight," she said. "This creates the opportunity for special-needs people to embrace the arts and bringing this theater alive."
Hampton said she would like to see the theater used more often.
The open-air theater had bats flying around and was used as a movie theater, with "Michael Jackson History on Film" beginning the show, followed by the videos for such songs as "Billie Jean," "Beat It" and "They Don’t Care About Us."
Judith Carroll and Linda Lacey Hodge, volunteer choreographers, went around to public and private schools with a Michael Jackson dance-training video and instructed students on the "Thriller" moves.
"In the schools we saw that everybody loves and knows of Michael Jackson and wanted to perform his dances," Carroll said.
When the person cast in the part of Jackson failed to make curtain call, Heather Reedy, a 14-year-old dance student, jumped right in and played the lead.
Hampton said it was planned as a different type of fun family event in support of the arts.
"Art has an impact on kids and this is a fun way to make an impact," she said.
For the finale, everyone was invited on stage to sing "We Are the World."
The dance was attended by more than 60 people some dressed as zombies. Local businesses donated goody bags and refreshments.
