Record-Breaking Robot Dancing

A group of 351 people dancing in a herky-jerky mechanical style you might call "robotic" broke the world’s robot-dancing record in Australia Tuesday. (Yes, Virginia, there was actually a previous record for robot dancing: set at the UK’s University of Kent by 276 people in September 2007.)

The dancers – who gathered just after noon on the South Lawn at Australia’s University of Melbourne – did a mechanical-style macarena for over five minutes to such classic robot-dance tracks as the Beastie Boys' Intergalactic. Some of them even wore costumes, covering themselves in tinfoil and putting tinfoil-covered milk crates on their heads, according Australia’s Sydney Morning Herald. (To see a video of the dance, click here.)

The record was smashed on the second attempt, after the first failed when too many participants turned shy and sat out. In the minutes before the dance-off, organizers were still roping in participants.

The robotic record-breaking was organized by Robogals, a non-profit group of young engineering undergraduates who encourage young girls to study science.

Arna "Robotgirl'' Singleton thanked the cheering sci-fi crowd "for being a part of this great moment,'' according to Australia’s The Advertiser newspaper.

Singleton said the crowd had "blown the record out of the water." Sounds like she was pretty charged up about it.

Photo courtesy disneymike via Flickr.