Slightly more than 700 people showed up at the O’Neill arena on Wednesday in an attempt to break the world record for the world’s largest zumba class.

But the attempt was not successful, because 2,013 people were needed to break the record.

Rachael Hunt, criminal justice freshman, said she wanted to break the record as much as anybody, but still enjoyed the event.

“I like the music and dancing aspect of the workout,” she said. “It makes it fun.”

Casey Lake, athletic training junior, was one student who attempted to break the record. Even though the main goal was not a success, she said she felt that something good came from it.

“It brought the community closer together, and the people that participated can go and tell their friends about it,” she said. “Maybe next time we will have a bigger turnout.”

The University also enjoyed hosting the event, even if the ending result did not put it in the record books.

SVSU’s director of recreation, Aaron Mowen, saw the pros that came with the University getting some public attention.

“Already, through promotion of the event, our University has become recognized through state and national networks such as ABC, NBC, the Detroit News and Saginaw News,” he said. “SVSU is in the spotlight for a positive, fun event that will open the eyes to potential students on their future choice of institution, and reconfirms to our students why SVSU is a great place to be.”

Secondary education junior Alex Faley also found many positives.

“Even though we didn’t break the record, I still think it was a really fun experience,” she said. “It was fun to dance with hundreds of people.”

What became enjoyable for some attendees was that, though they did not succeed, they still were a part of something that was publicly discussed and that gave them a chance to get on television.

“I loved it,” Lake said. “I’m glad I got to be a part of something that everybody knows about.”

Faley put aside the public attention the event gathered and said she was there for herself.

“It’s a little intimidating to dance in public, but I don’t mind much anymore,” she said. “I do zumba for myself, not for the crowd of gawking onlookers.”

The event also was advertised off-campus. The University took steps to get the community involved.

“We’ve worked with university communications, media relations and web communications,” Mowen said. “Each of those departments has contributed to spreading the information far and wide, from putting the event on the homepage, writing a press release for community news and arranging TV interviews for the event.”

Without the attempt being put into the record books, those who showed up on Wednesday still have the memory of their attempt, and still have what they enjoyed about the dancing to look back on.

“It got everybody out and moving and an opportunity to be a part of something big,” Lake said.