"The Transylvania mania, do the Transylvania mania," was the chorus inside Lexington Center as Transylvania University students and members of a local dance company "spontaneously" erupted into a choreographed number before the Kentucky-Transy game in Rupp Arena on Wednesday.

The "flash mob" surprised many basketball fans who had turned out for the game.

Others, including Kim Bryan and Becky Wagner, knew something must be coming because TV news cameras rimmed the second floor above the food court. Still, the two said they weren't expecting an exuberant dance number.

"I love it! It was great. It really livened up the place," Bryan said.

It started when Transylvania students were sent an email offering free tickets to the Broadway Live presentation of Young Frankenstein at the Lexington Opera House; the musical features the song Transylvania Mania. Those who asked for tickets were told via emails that they were required to participate in the flash mob to qualify for the freebies. About 50 students took the offer.

Students were sent an instructional video and told to learn the dance. The group had one practice in a Lexington Center convention room and then spaced the dance in the center's food court late at night, student Skyler Slone said.

The inexperienced Transylvania students were joined by dancers from Town & Village School of Dance in Paris. The dance company had performed the number last year at the Opera House.

The dance company kicked off with a group of five dancers dressed in sequined vests. They were joined by a group of Frankensteins with green face paint and by three mummies.

Then "audience members" yanked off their sweatshirts and street clothing to reveal matching red T-shirts that said "Transylvania Mania" and joined the dancers.

"You know everybody enjoyed it because even the UK fans were applauding," Wagner said.