Community Libraries Seeking Teens for Thriller of a Zombie Dance

Calling all teen zombies! Calling all teen zombies!

TeenPosium, sponsored by the and four other neighboring community libraries, is teaming up to host a series of unique events during TeenPosium 2011: Countdown to Comic Con. The events will lead up to the ZombProm Zombie Ball at the Novi Library next month, and eventually, the Motor City Comic Convention.

Suzanne Schimanski-Gross, the Teen Services Librarian in Northville said the events leading up to the ZombProm will also coincide with the Motor City Comic Con, which is coming to the Suburban Collection Showplace May 13-15. Having fun with the comic convention is a great way to get teens to explore their interests through reading.

“TeenPosium is a new series of events this year” Schimanski-Gross said. “It’s a cooperative effort by the neighborhood library association. The teen librarians have put their heads together and come up with quite a few really fun exciting aimed at teens which we consider students sixth to 12th grade.”

There are 17 events total between the five communities. Northville’s library will be hosting three of them. Lyon Township, Novi, Salem-South Lyon, and Wixom will also host similar events.

The first event for Northville was a book discussion about “The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan” from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 26 at the library.

“It’s a book about zombies,” Schimanski-Gross said. “Although she never calls them zombies, they’re called the unconsecrated. It’s a really exciting and gripping story. I think it will lead to a good discussion.”

The next event in Northville is the Comic Creators Workshop: Writing with Images. That’s being held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on April 28.

“Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd is going to come in and do a hands-on workshop with teens that want to do comics.” Schimanski-Gross said. “This is an after-hours program, so the library will be closed to the public, except for this group. They can learn about drawing their own comics. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

And at 7 p.m. on May 3, the library will host its final event: How to be a Zombie 101/Thriller Dance class.

Schimanski-Gross said an instructor will  teach a segment of the Michael Jackson Thriller dance and others will be presenting make-up examples and give tips on how to create a gory look.

The event all lead up to the spectacular ZombProm Zombie Ball at the Novi Library. The event is slated from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on May 6. Teens are encouraged to come dressed in their zombie best. Or in this case their zombie worst, officials said.

The event will feature a live DJ, dancing, food as well as prizes for best zombie and other great giveaways, including free admission to Comic Con and an extra role in a horror movie.

“We’re going to have a Jell-O-brain eating contest.” Schimanski-Gross said. “We’re going to have some awards for the best zombie appearance. There will be a lot of different prizes that night. We are going to have some passive zombie events like making little zombie dolls, and there will be some other fun trivia things about zombies for those who aren’t into doing the Thriller dance.”

Teens are welcome to attend events at the other libraries as well and can invite others to their community. All the events are free, but pre-registration is encouraged.

“Register by contacting the host library.” Schimanski-Gross said. “Some events teens can just drop in, but if they know they want to go, they should call and register, if they can, or they can call that day and ask if there is still space available.”

along with Lyon Township Public Library, Novi Public Library, Salem-South Lyon District Library and Wixom Public Library will all host events leading up to the ZombProm. Please visit teenposium.org for more information regarding events at your community library, as well as others. Registration and permission slip for after-hours events are required.

You can contact the Northville District Library at 248-349-3020, or by visiting www.northvillelibrary.org.