GRAY – If the students at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School look like zombies these days, that’s because they are.

In a manner of speaking.

About 40 of the students, as well as a few teachers and one high school student, are participating in Thrill the World on Saturday, a worldwide dancing event centered around the Michael Jackson song “Thriller.”

In the video for the song, the characters around Jackson are dressed as zombies who dance after rising from the dead. In the quarter-century since the song’s release as a video, its choreography has become a big part of global pop culture.

Thrill the World has evolved into an annual event, as organizers attempt to set a record for the largest simultaneous “Thriller” dance. The current record was set last October, with 1,722 dancers.

The students at Gray-New Gloucester Middle School will do their part to help set a new record beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at the school. The version of the dance that they will perform lasts a little more than five minutes.

The event is free and open to the public, although donations will be accepted to help the school purchase new sound and lighting equipment.

“It’s a great experience to be part of a worldwide event, and just a fun thing to do,” said Zoe Adams, 11.

“It’s actually pretty easy once you get used to it,” said blind student Sudeep Stauble, 13.

Learning the complicated dance moves was hard for Stauble at first. Other students would sometimes help, telling him which way to face and where to move.

At a rehearsal on Thursday, the final tuneup, Stauble did fine on his own.

“In the end, it’s really not too challenging,” he said. “It’s just a lot of fun.”

Michelle Guerard, a special-education teacher at the school, got the idea after chaperoning at school dances.

“Last year, the kids weren’t dancing. So we decided to teach them some dances,” she said. “The ‘Thriller’ dance is one of the most iconic dances of our time. I thought it would be good for these kids to learn it.”

Guerard graduated from high school in 1984, the year Michael Jackson released “Thriller” as a single. The song is the title track to the album of the same name – the top-selling album of all time. It was released in 1982, and “Thriller” was the final single from the album.

Jackson’s video featuring some acting and the song was so popular, MTV sometimes aired it twice an hour – and the clip lasted nearly 14 minutes.

On Saturday, Gray-New Gloucester will join more than 90 other dance locations in 12 countries. Dancers in Orono also will participate.

They’ll take an audio cue from the Thrill the World headquarters, then begin dancing – rising from the dead, twisting, turning, shaking and shimmering in unison with the music.

The whole school community is involved. The drama club is building sets and will help with makeup. Other teachers and secretaries are dancing, and one high school student is participating.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Michael Jackson,” said 17-year-old Gianna Oddi, a high school senior. “I heard about this and thought it would be fun to participate. Whoever thought something this cool could happen in little old Gray, Maine? It’s just amazing.”

During a break in rehearsal on Thursday, Guerard reminded students to think globally.

“For once in our lives, we are participating in a world event that is peaceful and that people are doing together, and that is what Thrill the World is all about,” she said.