A ‘Thriller’ romance: Lexington dancers celebrate their wedding with zombies
Albert Ignacio and Carisa Ball’s love story began with Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” so it was only fitting that their wedding reception on Saturday featured a full-on performance, with the bride and groom dancing down the aisle to the pop classic.
“It’s the way we met,” said Ball, who wore a long white wedding gown topped with a denim jacket, a nod to the costume worn by Jackson’s on-screen girlfriend, Ola, in the “Thriller” video.
Three years ago, the couple met while auditioning for the lead roles of Michael Jackson and Ola Ray in Lexington’s Thriller Parade, and they’ve performed the parts together at the popular Halloween event ever since.
Ignacio has been impersonating Jackson in the parade since 2012, but 2017 was Ball’s first time dancing in the downtown reenactment, and her attention to details caught Ignacio’s eye.
“She knew the part (of Ola) like I wanted to know the part for Michael,” Ignacio said. “I was impressed.”
The couple began dating a few months after that first “Thriller” performance. Last year, Ignacio surprised Ball by proposing outside Artworks, where they first met and where they continue to practice.
“It was a total surprise,” she said. “I thought he was just goofing off.”
The couple said they share a mutual love of dancing, and that was on full display at their reception Saturday at The Salsa Center, which is owned by members of Ignacio’s family.
The centerpiece of it all was the “Thriller” reenactment, complete with guests who came out of their seats to dance the part of zombies.
“It was a pretty integral part of their relationship,” said Ball’s daughter, Kelsey, who danced in a green zombie-style dress. “It’s just something that we kind of do all the time. ... If we hear ‘Thriller,’ we’re dancing.”
Teresa Tomb, who organized Lexington’s first downtown “Thriller” reenactment in 2002, has watched the couple’s romance blossom.
“They’re just lovely to work with,” she said. “It’s always fun when an event brings people together. We always create so many relationships through that event anyway.”
She said that when Ball first appeared at the audition several years ago, more than one of the dancers trying out for the role of Michael had hoped to be paired off with her to dance.
“Albert won that battle,” Tomb laughed Saturday, after joining the couple in the zombie dance.
Freddie Mager, who has performed as a zombie in the parade alongside Ignacio for years and also dances with Ignacio’s Danceformers group, remembers the moment Ignacio and Ball met for the first time at the audition.
“I sort of saw the spark,” Mager said.
On Saturday, he played the role of a zombie officiant, performing a brief ceremony for the couple, who had already had an “official” wedding ceremony earlier this month at the courthouse.
“You can’t help but be happy for both of them,” he said.
This story was originally published February 29, 2020 at 8:41 PM.
