Bravo, a NBC cable network since December 2002 which is dedicated to film and the performing arts, announced that for the first time ever, the entire cast of the show “Step It Up & Dance” will perform together live to honor the 25th anniversary of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” at the Tribeca Film Festival Drive-In.

As we reported earlier, the Thriller Night at the Tribeca Film Festival will take place on April 24, 2008 at the World Financial Center Plaza (NY, USA). In addition to the first time performance by the “Step It Up & Dance” cast, filmmaker and Thriller video director John Landis will screen the epic 1984 music video “Thriller” and the “Making Of Thriller” documentary.

As part of the event, “Step it Up & Dance” judge and long-time Michael Jackson choreographer, Vincent Paterson will be on site to teach the audience a few classic “Thriller” dance moves. The audience will also take part in the world’s largest zombie disco, a Michael Jackson dance contest, and Thriller face-painting stations. The event is free to the public, doors open at 6PM.

Paterson, a world-renowned director and choreographer, has directed and choreographed the “Bad” tour for Michael Jackson as well as conceived and choreographed the video “Smooth Criminal.” He was a dancer and the assistant choreographer for “Thriller” and directed the video “Blood on the Dance Floor,” among many other Michael Jackson music videos and live performances. He is currently engrossed in directing and writing Cirque Du Soleil’s “Elvis” set to open at Las Vegas’ CityCenter in 2009.

“Step It Up & Dance” airs every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT on Bravo. It features weekly challenges in which 12 of the best dancers from the USA audition. The dancers have access to some of the top choreographers in the industry performing in styles that range from hip-hop and freestyle to Broadway, burlesque and Latin. Judges on the show are Vincent Paterson and choreographer Nancy O’Meara (”Hannah Montana,” “High School Musical Tour”). Each week contestants are eliminated and only one person will get the final “call back” and the chance to become the ultimate dancer, winning $100,000.

Source: RealityWanted.com, MJFC-USA