500 to perform 'Thriller' in Indiana

GARY, Ind., July 8 (UPI) -- Organizers of a planned Michael Jackson tribute in his hometown of Gary, Ind., said nearly 500 people are expected to perform his famous "Thriller" dance.

The memorial, planned for Friday at The Steel Yard stadium, is expected to draw nearly 500 dancers of all ages to re-enact the entirety of Jackson's 14-minute "Thriller" video from 1983, the Northwest Indiana Times reported Wednesday.

Pastor John Ponder of the Family Christian Center megachurch, which is supplying 400 choir members to sing "We Are the World" to close the memorial, said about 75 percent of the dancers set to perform "Thriller" at the event are church members.

"Our hearts are in this," Ponder said. "We believe (Jackson) was a saved man. In his life he served to encourage others in their careers. He comes out of Northwest Indiana, and that's something we need to celebrate."

Jackson collapsed and died June 25 in Los Angeles.