Today thousands of people gathered on the streets of downtown Vancouver for Olympic festivities and I was lucky enough to be part of it by joining a flash mob.  A few weeks ago I heard about the flash mob and immediately signed up on Facebook, where I followed the instructional videos and learned the dance. At 3:30PM today I headed down to Robson and Thurlow where the street was so packed we people that I didn’t think we would be able to move much less dance.  We were supposed to be incognito until the music started as is customary with a flash mob, but the street was so packed with dancers and energy that there was cheering, a couple of waves and a pre-dance O Canada with red mitts waving in the air. 

So low key we were not, but when the music started playing (Dancing in the Streets by Martha and the Vandellas) I found my groove and along with thousands of other excited Canadians, we danced the chorography and sang the words louder than the sound system.  I felt an amazing flow of shared energy for Vancouver, Canada, the Olympics and the cause that organized it all, imagine1day: Bringing quality primary education to every child in Ethiopia by 2020.

I’ll upload the video once it is pulled together by the organizers.  But in the meantime enjoy the photos and here are some of my favourite flash mob videos:

Oprah was surprised by a flash mob during a Black Eyed Peas performance during her 24th Season Opener: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyLuIY8IyO4

There was the Sound of Music at Antwerp’s Central Station in Belgium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EYAUazLI9k

Then an incredible mash up at London’s Liverpool Street Station: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQ3d3KigPQM