Parade 'Thriller'

Walker Valley High School's band is taking the King of Pop to England's city of royalty.

The band will be marching to the music of "Thriller" in the London New Year's Day Parade, then musicians will stop and break it down at the foot of Big Ben where the parade route concludes. They're going to entertain the crowd with a 32-count "Thriller" dance, backed by just percussion and tubas keeping the beat.

"We chose it because it's a good tune," said director Alan Hunt. "I was in London this summer when Michael Jackson died. The people there are crazy for him. We thought it would be appropriate because they really like his music and that's where he was going to start his last tour."

"Thriller" is the 14-minute music video the late singer released in 1983 -- a full eight years before Walker Valley's seniors were even born.

"When I was younger we used to listen to it all the time," said senior Erin Goodwin, a clarinet player. "We know the words to it and we've all seen the video."

"I'd say it's still pretty popular," agreed Hannah Patterson.

"We watched it when I was in eighth grade and our teachers told us, 'This is like the best video ever," said Hannah, a sophomore flute player.

Stephanie Hunt, wife of the band director, choreographed the routine and has been teaching it to the musicians since the first of this month.

"I studied the video quite a bit," she said. "We do the zombie arms off to the side and the crab walk he does."

Mrs. Hunt said she began lessons with the color guard, who have dance experience.

"I taught them first, so I could show the dance and what it was supposed to look like. Then you have to go through each count, step by step. Go over it, and over it, and over it," she said of the weeks of lessons.

"It's been pretty easy to learn," said Hannah, "but I have a dance background. She taught us by eight counts. I like the part where we do the zombie arms."

Dance moves aren't that unusual for this show band. Last year, Walker Valley rocked to "Freebird" in their halftime show.

The 80 musicians in Walker Valley's band will leave Dec. 28 for a week of sightseeing before the big march through London from Piccadilly Circus to Parliament Street.

The parade's official Web site says a half-million spectators are expected along the parade route. Network coverage will be found on CNN, Fox News and CBS.