Kevin Bacon is preparing to get down on the dance floor with his sweet moves at the final prom of the high school where Footloose was filmed in Utah, Payson High School.
The 65-year-old announced to a gym full of the school's students that he'd be in attendance for the dance, coming after students launched a campaign to get the actor to attend since the school will be relocating at the end of the school year. The building is being torn down due to dated infrastructure. Footloose was released in 1984, making this the 40th anniversary of the iconic film.
The social media campaign, which had the hashtag the #BacontoPayson, involved students reenacting scenes from the movie and choreographing videos to get Kevin’s attention. And it worked! He made the announcement, which was aired on the Today show.
“I have been so impressed with everything that’s been going on there with this crazy idea to get me to come back,” he said. Kevin thanked the students for their invitation, noting that the school and the film were “a big part of my life.”
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“I’ve been amazed at the work that all of you have been putting into this, with the musical and the flash mobs and the re-creations," he continued. “It hasn’t gone unnoticed by me, not to mention the fact that you tied in SixDegrees.org, our foundation, and are trying to figure out ways to give back to your community. It’s really inspirational, so thank you. Thank you. And I’m gonna come. I gotta come."
The students erupted in excitement at the announcement. “Thank you, guys. Let’s dance," Kevin said.
“To watch them just take ownership of that and run with it has been … it succeeded beyond my wildest dreams, honestly,” the school's student council advisor Jenny Staheli said.
Kevin actor played Ren McCormack in the iconic film, which follows the narrative of the teen who moves from Chicago to a small town that forbids dancing. Ren attempts to overturn the ban set in place by a local minister.
The students will be hosting an event on the day of their prom to give back to SixDegrees.org, which was founded by Kevin in 2007 with the idea that everyone is in need of connection, according to the website.
"The secret is out! We are answering the call and heading back to where it all began at Payson High School," the organization posted to Instagram. "Big thanks to the @todayshow for amazing coverage in the field and all of the many partners that helped keep this super hush while the @sixdegreesofkb team tirelessly planned."
"Our partners at @viewpoint.pr, @utahfilm, and @payson_lions really helped to pull this together….Including the heavy lift of getting 1000 high schoolers to that gym at 4am without spoiling this moment. These young people really worked hard and getting our attention and it’s been fun to follow along this past year!"
