How to learn the Thriller Choreography
How I did it: watched the video a thousand times and wrote out, in detail, the moves. Here's the best i could do. While it's confusing, it's how I think when I choreograph. I've been teaching dance for years.
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Walk forward on left – left right, left right
Double time walk backward – pop left shoulder and tilt head
to left on 1, 5, 7
Right arm in front, left arm in back, pelvis thrusting, step
forward on left on 1, step together with right on 3, forward on left on 5, step
together with right on 7
Swim 2, 3, 4 coming forward on left foot turn so right side
is front
Swim 6, 7, 8 coming forward on right foot, end facing left
with left foot slightly ahead of right foot
Bring feet together by stepping forward on right foot for AND,
separate feet again by stepping forward on left foot for 1, bend forward and
throw head down on 2, bring feet together by stepping forward on right for AND,
separate feet again by stepping forward on left for 3, throw head and body back
for 4
Turn to right and get in MJ position (right foot ahead of
left and body turned to right) on 5, look forward on 6, bend knees in MJ
position (this includes right hand on pelvis and left arm straight back) on 7,
pelvis comes up on 8
Pelvis back on 1, pelvic thrust on 2, pelvis back on 3,
pelvic thrust on 4
Drop everything on 5 and face forward, feet together and
clap above head on 6
Drop down into sumo position, hands on thighs, head going
side to side with attitude for 7, 8, 1
Stomp and feet come together on 2, lift shoulders on AND 3,
look right and forward on AND 4
Clap above head on 5, drop down to sumo position on 6, keep
head going and hands on thighs for 7, 8, 1, Stomp together on 2, shoulders
shrug on AND 3, head turns right then front on AND 4
Step back on right foot with hands on thighs, knees bent, on
5, back left on 6, back right on 7, step left on AND, back right on 8
Step back on left foot with hands on thighs, knees bent, on
1, back on right on 2, back on left on 3, step right on AND, back on left on 8
Jump on 1, claws left and lift knees by coming up on toes
for AND, come center on 2, claws right and lift knees by coming up on toes for
AND, come center on 3, bring right foot behind left thigh and throw out left
hip and right snap hand to left hip for AND, step to side with right foot and
throw out snap hand while leaving elbow bent and throw out right hip on 4, Left
arm out at a diagonal and right foot out to a diagonal on AND. Hips in other
direction.
Walking claws
Jump, windmill, shimmy while coming up, go back down.
Swing hip to left while left hand follows (The Sway), then
to right. Do this for 4 counts. Then turn 180 degrees to the right and repeat
for 4 counts.
Turn back to the left and reach across body to the diagonal
with left arm. Bring it back down to left hip and swivel hips back, left,
forward, right with hands in “air guitar” position.
On 1, while leaning to left, pulse with body on 1, 2, 3, 4.
Lean to right and bring left arm up and snap/wave to left on
5, 6, 7, 8
Grab to left with both hands on 1, AND
Turn to right on 2, punch left right left on AND 3 AND, MJ
pose on 4
Zombies look one at a time on 5, 6, 7, 8
Using right foot as a pivot point, bring left shoulder
forward with left foot on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 while rotating 180 degrees. Look
over left shoulder on 7, look back on 8. Walk starting with right foot and
right shoulder for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. 1, 2, TURN 180 to left.
“CUZ THIS IS THRILLER” jump and land left, right. Look right
left. Shoulders shrug up, down. Hands come up to the right so elbows are at 90
degrees. Throw hands out, pull and body comes forward as feet go left right –
right foot ends up out. A whole bunch of shuffling left to right, then right to
left, then left to right.
On “STRIKE” Elbows are slightly bent, hands are up, right
foot is out.
“THRILLER” AND 3 AND 4 = hip right, hip left, arms right,
arms left
On “Thriller night” walk forward, crossing over other foot,
right left right, out, duck down.
Come up with claws in front of you
“CUZ THIS IS THRILLER” jump and land left, right. Look right
left. Shoulders shrug up, down. Hands com up to right so elbows are at 90
degrees. Throw hands out, pull and body comes forward as feet go left right –
right foot ends up out. A whole bunch of shuffling left to right, then right to
left, then left to right.
Elbows are slightly bent, hands are up, right foot is out.
“THAN ANY FOOL COULD EVER DARE TRY, THRILLER” on AND 3 and 4
= hip right, hip left, arms right, arms left
“THRILLER NIGHT” walk forward, crossing over other foot,
right left right, out, duck down.
Come up with claws in front of you.
“THRILLER” bring right foot behind left thigh and throw out
left hip and right snap hand to left hip for AND, step to side with right foot
and throw out snap hand while leaving elbow bent and throw out right hip on 4,
Left arm out at a diagonal and right foot out to a diagonal on AND. Hips in
other direction. (repeat from earlier)
Claws to the left – 1, 2, 3, turn, turn, 1, 2, 3, turn, turn
Stop, bend from hip with feet apart and hands on thighs.
Come forward with right foot and right shoulder, hands still on thighs and left
foot as a pivot point. This is on counts 6, 7, 8, 1, 2. Look over left shoulder
on 3. Look front on 4. Walk 5, 6, 7. Turn and pose on 8 (OW!)
Lessons & tips: practice practice practice with the video. it helps you get the rhythm of the moves into your head better than knowing the counts, as the counts are very confusing.
Resources: youtube youtube youtube
