It wasn't midnight but the mood was just as scary this afternoon as more than 200 students of Ranch Park elementary school stomped and lurched to Michael Jackson's Thriller.
The dance was choreographed by kindergarten teacher Corinne Pare and students aged five to 11 spent two months perfecting their routine.
Pare said the students practiced every day during a five-minute "Power Up" before classes start as part of their physical activity routine inspired by principal Don Hutchinson, himself an award-winning educator.
Dozens of parents turned out to watch the production, as well as a major television station, which planned to broadcast the dance on its evening news.
But some Coquitlam Centre shoppers got an early peek at the dance on Tuesday when the students performed a "flash mob" at the local mall in normal dress clothes.
"It turned out great," enthused Pare.
In keeping with the performance, the teachers all dressed up as zombies while the students were decked out in Halloween costumes that ranged from ballerinas, to witches and superheroes.
Emergency responders are asking people to watch out for trick or treaters tonight, as Halloween approaches, and to keep pets indoors in the event of fireworks.
dstrandberg@tricitynews
