Watch Over 100 Dancers Perform the Thriller Throwdown in Portland, Maine’s Monument Square

What began as a small flash mob ten years ago in Monument Square in Portland, has grown to include over 100 dancers that big crowds turn out for each year before Halloween.

The "Thriller Throwdown" is a choreographed dance with over one hundred dancers from Maine who practiced for weeks leading up to the three-minute performance that happened for the tenth year in a row on October 28. It's a recreation of the dance routine featured in Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video from 1983.

The song was released on November 5, 1983 in the UK, a little late for Halloween which the song has now become synonymous with. The song is so popular at Halloween that "Thriller" charts back on the Billboard Hot 100 every year. In 2021 it went all the way to number 18, the highest chart position since the original release.

According to News Center Maine, Portland dancer instructor Kristin Sutton had the idea to do a flash mob based on "Thriller," and it has grown every year since with over a hundred Mainers of all ages learning the moves over several weeks and dressing up in costume to perform.

This year's Thriller Throwdown was spectacular. The album version of the song comes in at just under six minutes. The Thriller Throwdown uses the remixed Thriller Immortal Version which is about half that length.

Will Johnson is seen right up front in the role of zombie Michael Jackson and his performance is right on the mark.

Plan for next year to see the Thriller Throwdown in person in Portland's Monument Square.