GRAND RAPIDS, MI - As I watched the crowd gather at Rosa Parks Circle in downtown Grand Rapids, I was once again impressed with the willingness and overall availability Grand Rapidians have to get together for a good time.

Tuesday night, the Grand Rapids Original Swing Society invited dancers to participate in an attempt to break the World Record for Swing Dancing in Unison.

There are those dressed in suits and flapper dresses, others in athletic gear, even some zombies. Why not? All have gathered for one purpose: To swing their way into the record books.

I met couples who had been swing dancing for years (Jim Hays and Amanda Hayes in the video) and others here for their second time (Eden McCune and Paul Martin also in video). Many people had their first experience with swing dancing at a previous Grand Rapids Original Swing Society event.

GROSS holds classes and dances all year round. Once the cold weather hits, they move the action to the Grand Rapids Public Museum.

I interviewed the founder of the Grand Rapids Original Swing Society, Steve Zaagman ,who was confident he would meet the required number of people to break the record, but not as equally confident they would meet the laundry list of other requirements Guinness needs documented to officially break a record.

Zaagman said if it didn't officially happen Tuesday night, it would very soon.

After a lengthy counting process and a quick refresher, the dancers were set loose. Around 800 dancers attempted to keep time in unison with some basic swing moves while the live band Hark Up Horns played the tunes.

Check out the video. I edited it so the video isn't the full five minutes required for the official record but I did find time to include a sweet trombone solo (I was a band geek. Deal with it.). They did dance well over the time needed.

Do you think we've got the record? Were you there? Put your comments below. Who knows? You might spot yourself in the crowd.

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