Each
year, to celebrate International Dance Day, Canada’s National Ballet School puts
on a flash mob performance. This year, for the first time, I joined in for their
Bollywood number thanks to a suggestion from the lovely Zoe and her mail-lady friend.
Defined
by Wiki as “a group of people
who assemble suddenly in a public, perform an unusual and seemingly
pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of
entertainment, satire, and artistic expression” the mob (in my opinion) lives up to its reputation.
It’s a super quirky activity that if nothing else, creates a space for participants
to do something out of the ordinary. I’m an advocate for complete ridiculousness
and fortuned from a healthy dose with the mob experience. I have next to no
coordination (curse all those hours of tap and jazz as a child!), can’t remember
a routine to save my life and bungrah like a drunk child.
Thankfully,
my charming dance crime partner abstained from mocking me at rehearsal. He certainly
didn’t bust-out laughing when I commonly pivoted the wrong way or lost my
footing. He always arrived sober and with fresh smelling feet (essential
criteria for such a serious dancer). He was swift, regimented and undeniable
passionate about expressing himself through movement. Unrelated, but noteworthy,
he also has a fascinating awareness of hotels, in particular the lobbies, in
the downtown area. I indulged in a post-rehearsal tour - more than once. Delightful.
I look forward to more dancing (and more tours).
When
mob day finally came, after weeks of rehearsal, it sadly felt a bit too
contrived. None the less, it was a total buzz and far from pointless.
Without training, looming rainstorms, a snagged chain and a 6:30am
start time, why wouldn’t cycling 75km (ok, I only completed 50km...) across the
Gardiner and up the DVP, and back again, be the first thing that comes to mind
for a Sunday activity?! 
