The Guinness Book of World Records confirmed Friday morning that the College of William and Mary’s April 19 attempt for the largest “Thriller” dance was successful.

The event, led by Kevin Dua ’09, took place in the Sunken Garden and attracted a participatory crowd of 242 students, faculty and local residents. Only 148 dancers were needed to break the record for the largest number of people dancing simultaneously to Michael Jackson’s 1984 single.

“I’m very surprised everything went so smoothly and that the end result was this record for the College,” Dua said.

He said he was proud the group was able to break the world record, however he downplayed his own role in the event.

“Its something everyone was a part of,” he said. “It was a collective effort that day.”

Guinness’s online record file currently reads:

“The largest thriller dance was achieved by Kevin Dua (USA) and 241 other participants in an event at the College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA on 19 April 2009.”