 YMCA by the Village People was a UK number one in 1978 |
An attempt to break the world record for the biggest dance to YMCA by the Village People has not been allowed into the Guinness Book of Records. The organisers of Deal's regatta procession were convinced their 23,805 people singing and dancing constituted a record.
But they have been told they did not have proof all the dancers were in step with each other.
The organisers said they feel they do hold the world record and will not be put off making similar record attempts in the future.
 |  We have a world record for the largest YMCA dance - we smashed the existing record and if Guinness choose not to recognise it, they have the problem not us  |
The mass dance was one of the highlights of the Deal, Walmer and Kingsdown Carnival and Regatta, held in Kent in July. The organising committee wrote to the Guinness Book of Records beforehand, asking for rules and regulations to make sure they handled the record attempt properly.
They have claimed they followed them to the letter, only to be told they had failed to comply with several other rules.
Guinness said the claim was unacceptable for four reasons:
No footage to show that all those dancing in the different streets around the town were in time and step No photos of the dance happening Failure of witnesses to provide their own statements and inform us on how the total number was calculated or how those not dancing were deducted No log book or similar to show how the numbers were calculated so that the attempt was for the number of people actually dancing rather than just attending the event 'Moved the goalposts'
John Trickey, chairman of the Regatta Committee, said: "We were in contact with Guinness for a period of nearly nine months prior to the event and we wanted it very clear what we had to do to get the recognition for it.
"We had a set of rules and we genuinely believe we abided by those rules.
"This event was spread over a mile-and-a-quarter - how could we have a video camera showing a guy at one end was in step with a young lady at the other end?
"We genuinely feel that they moved the goalposts, 23,805 people were there and did it.
"We are going to put out a petition and we want people who were there to sign it.
"We have a world record for the largest YMCA dance - we smashed the existing record and if Guinness choose not to recognise it, they have the problem not us."
Guinness said nobody was available for comment, but it did confirm the reasons the record attempt was rejected.
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