Carlmont’s Beginning Dance class’s hard work paid off on Wednesday, Oct. 31 when the quad was flooded with people who eagerly watched them perform Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” a popular tradition at the school’s Halloween rally for the past six years.

A large amount of time and effort was invested to make the annual performance successful.

Ame Secrist, director of Dance at Carlmont, described the preparations for “Thriller” that Beginning Dance went through: “They were taught the dance and had three weeks to learn it. We worked on it in class every day.”

All students who performed in “Thriller” had the choice to do so. “Anyone in class who learned the dance was allowed the opportunity to perform it. Those who participated made their own costumes and did their own makeup,” said Secrist.

Many Beginning Dance students enjoyed working on the routine. Sophomore Mariko Kondo described her “Thriller” experience: “It was a lot of fun. I got a chance to dance in the quad and my friends saw me. It was a little hard to learn the dance, so doing it well made me proud and happy.”

Secrist concurred with Kondo: “It is a very enjoyable process. You can’t go wrong with MJ.”

Carlmont’s dance classes became even more involved in this year’s rally. Two routines, which were performed by other dance classes, preceded the “Thriller” grand finale.

In future years, Secrist hopes to expand “Thriller” into an even larger event. She wishfully stated, “My dream is to have the faculty and staff perform it with the kids someday.”