Dance rehearsal at Lincoln Elementary School this month took on a decidedly “Night of the Living Dead” look. Of course, that’s exactly what the dancers intended, as they prepared to learn a 6-minute routine based on the late singer Michael Jackson’s 1983 music video “Thriller.”

Think zombies. Think walking dead. Think funky, ground-breaking dance moves that helped shape a generation.

On Saturday, the students will dance at 5:30 p.m. in the school playground while 368 other groups on five continents dance at the same time as part of the “Thrill the World” tribute to Michael Jackson, who died June 25. Those wanting a “crash course” on the dance can show up at noon Saturday and rehearse for four hours before taking part in the worldwide event.

During one of the final rehearsals Oct. 14, a room in the school resembled a graveyard as the group of some 30 people lay on the floor motionless — the beginning of the dance. Slowly, they came to “life,” rising and then hobbling forward with their arms dangling, heads dragging, and eyes rolling back in their sockets.

Soon, they were popping their shoulders, sliding and jumping just like Jackson years ago in the horror-themed music video that launched music videos — and MTV — into a new orbit.

Anywhere from 25 to 50 locals ages 6 to 64 have showed up twice weekly to rehearse the dance, said Rhonda Tipps, 51, of Mount Vernon, who has arranged the local event.

Tipps wanted to be part of the ground-breaking dance — organizers are gunning for “Biggest Thriller Dance” through the World Records Academy. She also wanted to offer a nonsports athletic activity for kids to participate in.

“There’s a lot of opportunities for kids to do organized sports, but I just thought this would be a fun thing, something different,” Tipps said.

And the timing is perfect. “Thriller” has been a Halloween staple on MTV and radio stations for more than two decades, and is a tidy fit during a time of year when zombies dominate the movies and video games. Plus, the kids seem to love it, Tipps said.

Beads of sweat shone brightly on the forehead of José Cardenas, 11, of Mount Vernon, as he took a water break in the middle of the Oct. 14 rehearsal.

“I love to dance, and I like Michael Jackson,” José said.

But he had no idea he was enjoying a song and dance that dates back 15 years before he was born. In fact, only two in the crowd that gathered to rehearse that Wednesday were of the generation that would have enjoyed “Thriller” in its heyday.

Tipps and Lindsey Bowen both remember the video fondly. Bowen’s father was there to confirm it.

“I had four daughters, and they grew up watching ‘Thriller’ probably 100 times,” said Will Flint, 64.

Tipps said she is exactly the same age as Jackson. “I’ve always enjoyed his music and I think his dancing is incredible,” she said. “I think his videos are electrifying.”

But his dancing was known for being unique and difficult to perform. Jackson’s video defied conventional dancing rules, so the group had to use its own vocabulary for each move.

“It was hard at first, but once you get used to it, it gets easier,” José said.

For instance, instead of “step-one-two-three,” as usual, Bowen shouted “Wazzup-one-two-three” and “five-six-seven-eight, and scare!” as she led the group of kids through a complicated dancing and pantomiming segment.

That might have been the kids’ favorite moment, when they all threw their arms up, growled and gnarled their menacing fingers.

And so yet another generation has caught the “spirit” of the “Thriller,” and dances off in search of braaaaaaains.

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AT A GLANCE:

WHAT: “Thrill the World” dance to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”

WHEN: Crash course to learn the dance that went with the video “Thriller” from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Performance begins at 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: Lincoln Elementary School, 1005 S. 11th St., Mount Vernon

COST: Free