WASHINGTON – A flash mob of kids inspired by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” performed Thursday outside the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.

The students from D.C. public school Savoy Elementary did their best to bring Jackson’s popular 80s video to life, dancing in unison.

The school is part of a program called Turnaround Arts, a public-private partnership linked to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.

“When you are doing this, kids are really excited about coming to school,” says Kathy Fletcher, with Turnaround Arts, explaining that the program is aimed at getting kids excited about the arts.

Aretha McCray, who has two daughters who attend Savoy, says the program has helped her kids become better students.

“It helps me a whole lot,” she says.

Follow WTOP on Twitter.

(Copyright 2012 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)