Thriller

“I keep on dancing and dancing… and dancing, until there is only… the dance.”
Michael Jackson

THRILLER: THE AFTERGLOW…

This is the third year World Dance has hosted Santa Barbara’s THRILLER. At 12:00pm on October 27th, 215 Zombies rose from the grounds of the Courthouse Sunken Gardens and joined the world in a spirit of global good will. An amazing time was had by all, at the Sunken Gardens, and at our FLASHMOB circuit which included:
FRIDAY – Hitchcock YMCA, Trader Joe’s and State Street
SATURDAY – State Street and Soho’s
SUNDAY – The pier in Santa Barbara, the main square in Los Olivos, Neverland, and the Lunacy Festival
HALLOWEEN – Ghost Village Road, Biltmore, Hotel Canary rooftop, State Street, and Soho’s.

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE PHOTOS AND UPLOAD YOUR PHOTOS
(Scroll down to see some awesome videos!)

THE LIBERIA HEALTH PROJECT

HUGE THANKS to the Thriller dancers to helped make this year’s charity a whopping success! We have officially reached, and surpassed, our goal of $10,000 to help the nonprofit Tiyatien Health improve the quality of care at the Konobo Health Center, the only health facility available to the 34,000 people in the poorest region of Liberia.

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR TOP FUNDRAISING ZOMBIES:
Jojo Barker
Barbara Finch
Lorna Hardy
Linda Lorenzen-Hughes
Sherry Robin
Sandy Stinson
Jennifer Schwarz
Susan Whalen

Susan Whalen taught Thriller to the Santa Maria Boys & Girls Club, and was moved by their big efforts to help the children of Liberia: “These kids stole my heart with their commitment to practice the dances, but their selfless effort to raise money for charity overwhelmed me. I was so moved when I opened their money envelopes – filled with coins, including pennies – everything they could give, they gave to our project.”

A Message from Raj Panjabi, Tiyatien Health:

Dear World Dancers, What incredible pictures and story! In Liberia, dancing is part of our heritage — it is a universal way of expression. We use it to express love, solidarity and celebration. I can imagine the joy on the faces there in Santa Barbara to be like the ones I’ve seen on the faces of girls and boys in Liberia (while growing up, Michael Jackson, was one of Liberia’s most popular singers!).

Despite all the struggles in the fight for justice, it is exactly joy like this that we all need to be reminded of as the essence of the struggle — both in its means and its end. So, I’m sharing your pictures with our colleagues at Konobo Health Center, who work with the very mothers you are trying to support.

The women of Santa Barbara have done so much more than has ever been done for the women of Konobo — and with the greatest of heart. We are so grateful for the time, effort and yes, love and spirit, that you put into the event. Congratulations!

HUGE THANKS TO THESE AMAZING FOLKS FOR MAKING OUR EVENT POSSIBLE:

Linda Lorenzen-Hughes, Coldwell Banker – Event Sponsor
Greka California – Event Sponsor
Global Neighborhood Fund – Event Partner
Santa Barbara Foundation – Event Partner
Leah Combs, Teresa Nowak, Laura Peterson, and Susan Whalen – Co-teachers
Charles Utt – Custom Printing
Kathleen Kennedy – Waller Design
Santa Barbara Dance Center
Gary Atkins & Chris Benedict – Thriller Sound
And our incredible volunteer photographers and videographers!

ZOMBIE FEEDBACK

CINDY LYON: I never look at my Facebook, but friends are now peppering it with Thriller images. It’s so fun during this time of my life to focus outward on something so much bigger than myself. I just showed my class of kids with multi-disabilities the Thriller video and they applauded their teacher! I also showed them the recent slideshow report from Rwanda, and it was wonderful to connect them to what we are doing – really amazing for them to consider and to SEE the kids and families in Africa. I told them that our Earth is really a very small place. World Dance keeps growing and growing. Whoever thought when I signed up to dance, really just for my own mental health, that one short year later I would be using a WD-related slideshow to make the world smaller and more meaningful to my special ed students…very cool.

DELIA NAVARRETE: My first year participating & it has been SOOO much fun! I will be flashmobbing with you all again on Halloween, but I already cannot wait until next year! I’m already starting to recruit family & friends to join in on this wonderful event/cause. A big THANK YOU to you, Janet for making this happen! Continued success to you & World Dance Santa Barbara.

KRISTINA STEWART, SB Foundation – about the Neverland performance: Initial estimates are 100 cars were parked along Fig Mtn Rd with an estimated 300 total in attendance. The staff said it was the best event and group they’d ever had at the ranch. So much love and respect, honoring Michael, his art, his humanitarianism, and his legacy, which all combined with this event. LOVE! This has been one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever had the honor to be a part of, and to call this “work” is a blessing. The Boys & Girls Club kids have committed their time and in many cases their allowance money to support maternal health programs in Liberia, all while honoring MJ’s music and humanitarian legacy. World Dance is an endless source of inspiration, and I know I’ve told you this many times, but I feel so blessed our paths crossed and am incredibly grateful to be a part of the great work you’re doing. Here’s to many, many more good things in the future.