Flash Mobs Delight Both Dancers and Audiences

The majority of flash mobs do NOT feature dancing. But when they do, they can be impressive. Notwithstanding the sometimes-challenging venues and the non-dancing spectators in them, the dances themselves are tightly-choregraphed, the opposite of freestyle. But they can be lots of fun to participate in, and virtually always are very entertaining both to participants and spectators.

Notwithstanding the sometimes-challenging venues and the non-dancing spectators in them, the dances themselves are tightly-choregraphed, the opposite of freestyle. But they can be lots of fun to participate in, and virtually always are very entertaining both to participants and spectators.

Once the phenomen was recognized, advertisers jumped in. Because of their size and roof overhead, and the built-in audiences, train stations are popular venues. A 2009 T-Mobile ad (uploaded January 16) has garnered nearly 41 million views.
But a non-commercial one (uploaded March 23, 2009) has rolled up 32 million views, probably to some extent because of its sweet music and beautiful architecture.

In 2010 there was a west coast swing done to Usher’s tune “xxx” (a poor choice of tune and a few strange figures, in Wilddancer’s opinion) flash mob. There were several episodes in San Francisco, but on December 5 it was (humorously) upstaged by the (only-in-San-Francisco) Santa Skivvies Run.

Sunday in the Park with … Lindy

Social dancing is where you find it. In our persona as Wilddancers we have danced in large public squares and parks in China (as the only Caucasians present–and with the background of a bunch of dance lessons–we naturally drew a crowd, all of whom wanted to dance with each of us). And this outdoor dancing happens in the U.S. as well … especially in places like San Francisco where the weather is usually good. (A little chilly sometimes, but when you’re doing the fast-tempo version of swing called Lindy Hop you get warmed up pretty fast.) Not only is it free, but from a small group with a boombox nearly 20 years ago it has expanded to a group as large as 200 on some Sundays, complete with instructors. This all takes place Sundays from 11am to 2pm on the sidewalk behind the de Young museum in Golden Gate Park.

Trolley Dances in San Diego Oct. 5-6, Riverside Oct. 19, San Francisco Oct. 19-20

san diego trolley dances 2496x1521

Today when two political parties—members of closely-related species–in Washington can’t agree on anything, it seems incredible that two very dissimilar species–a dance choreographer and a metropolitan transit system—could forge an alliance. But according to The New York Times choreographer Jean Isaacs and the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System did just that in 1998, and this year celebrate their 15th anniversary (San Francisco picked up on the idea five years later so theirs is their 10th). Yeah, we know it’s not couples dancing (no cha cha’s or waltzes), but it IS social (or at least sociable) dancing. And the audience does a lot of the moving, as they board public transit, alight at various stops, and watch 10-minute dance routines (often in imaginative venues).

Viennese Waltz Ball in San Francisco on November 2

Viennese Waltz Ball in San Francisco on November 2

Viennese waltz balls are the most elegant of all social couples dancing events. The venues are as high end as you can get; in Vienna itself—which has over 150 balls each winter–many are held in the largest and most historic palaces. Ladies and gentlemen are dressed in their finest: floor-length ball gowns for ladies and white tie and tails for gentlemen. And the people are urbane; one year we exchanged cards with one couple with homes in San Francisco, London, and Vienna itself and another who had flown a very small plane the full length of North and South America. The San Francisco event—the Annual Gala Autumn Viennese Waltz Ball— is held by the San Francisco Waltzing Society, which dates to the early 1950’s. This year it is being held at the historic Hotel Whitcomb. As in recent past years it features the 30-piece Saratoga Symphony playing the music of Johann Strauss and other famous composers. There will also be a special performance by Dance Libre.