Learning 'Thriller' moves in Renton

In the end, it's the music, and the incredible choreography, that's the legacy, not the tabloid controversies of Michael Jackson's life.

Just ask anybody who shows up for one of those "Thriller" events, even a dance practice like the one held on Sunday afternoon in a dance barn in Renton. The practice was in preparation for the Oct. 23 global Thrill the World dance.

Ask someone like Melissa Pascua, 18, soon to start at the University of Washington branch in Tacoma. She and two friends made the trek to the Rockin' Horse Dance Barn from Seattle. Pascua was born a decade after "Thriller" was released in 1982, and then went on to sell 29 million copies in the U.S. alone and become the best-selling album in history.

"I knew about Jackson, but it's kind of superficial, you know, the well-known facts," says Pascua.

It was after he died on June 25, 2009, of cardiac arrest, and there were marathon showings of his music videos on cable TV, that Pascua learned the most about Jackson. What she learned was about his music, with 13 singles on his own name that hit No. 1.

"I got hooked. I realized how much I had missed out on," says Pascua.

One of her friends is Rickey Mayor, 18, also about to attend the UW Tacoma branch.

He didn't know much about Jackson — well, other than he was a big star. But now Jackson's music is on his iPod shuffle and he likes those old tunes.

"It's the beat, I guess," says Mayor.

About 50 people ranging from 5 to 60, most of them women, were here for a two-hour session on learning how to dance for zombies. The event here is run by seattlethrillers.com.

Sheri Kinley, 56, a surgical nurse who lives in Mill Creek, is the organizer and dance instructor. A couple of years ago, she says, the group had 106 members. Now it's more than 500. The practices will run weekly through Oct. 10.

On Sunday, she breaks down the entire 5-minute-57-second routine into components such as the "Zombie March," "March Booty Swim," "Shuffle Ha Slide" and "Oh Snap Rock On."

Not to worry, she tells her students, it's easy.

"Shoulder, step, raise right shoulder, tilt head, head to the shoulder, eight forward and eight back," she tells them. "Everybody looks great!"

And even if some of the students aren't exactly, coordinated, not to worry, says Kinley.

"We're not the Rockettes! Anything will do just fine!" she says.

And, she explains, the nice thing about being a zombie who's dancing is that flailing around works because that's what zombies do.

When someone asks about where to get zombie costumes, Kinley says, "Start at Value Village!"

Then she recommends people drive over their costumes three or four times for that really tattered look.

Kinley does warn the students about mimicking Michael Jackson's dance moves in which he grabbed his crotch.

"Hand doesn't go below the belt," says Kinley. "We're keeping it clean because little kids are watching it, too."

Among those attending the session is Ka Anderson, of Mercer Island, who describes herself as retired. Her boyfriend thought it'd be fun to take part.

Breaking down the zombie dance steps has given her an appreciation for Jackson's talents, she says.

"All that he was able to do, and how effortless he made it look," says Anderson. "I mean, you look at yourself in the mirror doing the dance steps, and what you're seeing isn't at all like what he did."

The two-hour session goes fast.

The students seem pleased with their progress.

Right hip right hip right hip in and out ...

Stomp stomp stomp look left ...

One of the people who traveled the farthest on Sunday for the dance lesson was Ann Kenneally, 51, of Silverdale.

"I loved to watch him dance," she says about Michael Jackson.

She smiles at the memories of watching him on TV.

"It was so obvious there was such joy in it for him," she says.

Erik Lacitis: 206-464-2237 or elacitis@seattletimes.com