LEWISTON — Calling all Maine zombies.

On Saturday night, groups around the world plan to gather in gymnasiums, athletic fields and parking lots for a synchronized version of the zombie dance made famous in Michael Jackson’s 1983 “Thriller” video.

“The great thing about it is that anyone can do it,” said Jocelyn French, who is putting together a dance outside Lewiston’s Colisee. Even lead-footed zombies can manage the eight steps.

“Even in the video, they weren’t all perfect,” French said. “They had issues like rigor mortis.”

A horror movie fan, French organized the event as an excuse to dress up in a spooky costume and be silly. She also hopes to do some good. Every person who enters must submit a $5 registration. French, a receptionist at Lewiston’s Trinity Catholic School, plans to turn over those fees to her school’s art and music teachers.

“I’d love to get some little instruments for the music classes,” she said. “Whatever they need. Maybe easels for the art classroom.”

French has been putting together the event over the past few weeks, following a detailed “Thrill the World” program. Canadian founder Ines Markeljevic began the annual event in 2007 in Toronto with 65 dancers, according to her Web site, www.thrilltheworld.com. This year, she has 372 locations around the world.

Lewiston’s dance is the only one in Maine, said Shawna Romain, spokeswoman for the Colisee. The arena donated the use of its wide parking lot. It’s gate is scheduled to open at 6 p.m. Saturday. French and her staff of volunteers hope to begin rehearsals with attendees at 6:30 p.m. They plan to teach everyone the basic steps.

“We won’t do what Michael did,” French said. “He had all the spins on his toes.”

Rather, people will be mimicking the video’s zombie backup dancers.

A three-page dance script includes such moves as the “hip ‘n roar,” “the wuz up” and “the zombie march.” French and about 10 volunteers rehearsed the dance Saturday. Those folks plan to teach anyone who arrives at the Colisee.

French has received about 80 phone inquiries and expects more people to simply show up Saturday.

“I’d like to see 400 people,” she said. Anyone of any age may dance.

The full dance will begin at 8:30 p.m. sharp and last just over five minutes. Volunteers will be taking photos and videotaping the performance. Archiving materials from each site are meant to be used to convince the people at Guinness that a world record has been achieved.

The images also hope to capture a ghoulish-looking group. French plans to frizz her hair and apply makeup that resembles peeling and rotting flesh.

“I don’t know how elaborate people will get with their costumes,” she said. “The more, the better.”

[email protected]