With Halloween a few days away, ghouls and zombies invaded the Eppley Recreation Center last night.

Students dressed up in leather jackets, tight pants and other “Thriller”-inspired outfits for the third annual “Thriller” dance at the ERC. The dance attracted about 160 students, much more than a typical dance class. The instructors said they hope this free class will inspire the students who came to attend more of the regularly scheduled dance classes.

At the end of the night, instructors presented awards for the best dancer, best costume and the most energetic.

“I put my all into this costume,” said sophomore economics major Chelsea McKenzie, who won the costume award for her Michael Jackson imitation outfit. “I channeled my inner Michael.”

Students took advantage of the opportunity to dress up a few days before Halloween and came decked out in Michael Jackson attire and zombie-like costumes.

Sophomore hearing and speech science major Rachel Pomycala came wearing a torn flannel shirt with fishnet stockings and face paint.

“There’s zombies in the ‘Thriller’ video, so we wanted to go with the video,” she said.

Sophomore psychology major Lia Karvounis, who came with Pomycala, also wore a zombie outfit.

“We ended up looking more like the joker,” Karvounis said, noting their bright face paint.

Though the event was primarily a dance class, many of the participants did not have much dancing experience. But most students said it didn’t matter.

“This is more for fun than real musical talent,” senior marketing major Sue O’Neill said. “It’s not that technically difficult.”

Others, like sophomore journalism major Michaelle Bond, said it’s just not Halloween without “Thriller.”

“I’ve always wanted to know the dance. It’s quintessential Halloween to learn the dance,” Bond said.

“We got a party to go to, so we definitely have to know the ‘Thriller,'” junior psychology major Robert Granville added.

Some attendees had done the dance before, such as freshman letters and sciences major Carmen Alston, who said it has been years since she first learned the “Thriller” moves.

“When I was little, I did two-stepping in front of the TV to this,” Alston said.

The instructor, junior communication major Mona Javid, has taught the dance all three years at the ERC.

“It comes kind of naturally,” Javid said. “It’s a really easy dance. You can just follow.”

Due to the enthusiastic student response Javid gets every year, she said she intends to continue the “Thriller” tradition in the future.

“As long as I’m here,” Javid said, the dancing will go on.

Angela Fu, a graduate student and fitness instructor, helps with the program in hopes that the unique theme would inspire people who don’t normally exercise to come out and try it.

“I can’t think of a muscle you don’t use [doing the dance],” she said. “It’s a way to exercise and have fun.”

Some of the students ended up having so much fun, they said they want to come back and try other dance classes.

“This will be the catalyst to get me to go to more classes,” Bond said.

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