Wednesday, Jun. 22, 2011

Flash mob was 'born this way'

Some people are born to dance.

At a concert Thursday in dowtown Clayton, a flash mob made up of dozens of dance lovers surprised concert-goers when they broke out into a dance routine to Lady Gaga's "Born This Way."

Raquel Williams, who owns dance school DPM Studios in Clayton, had been planning the flash mob for weeks. She choreographed a routine, urged her dancers to take part and put out calls on the Internet. She even posted a dance tutorial on YouTube.

"Everyone just wanted another creative way to express themselves," said Williams, 29.

As far as anyone can tell, this was Clayton's first flash mob. The events, which feature a group of people who gather at a public place to perform something, have become more popular.

In Clayton, Williams, clad in purple and black tights, encouraged dancers to wear wacky outfits. After all, they were performing to a song by an artist who once wore a dress made of meat.

Teresa Smith, 32, of Willlow Spring said she had been attending Williams' flash-mob rehearsals for weeks. Wearing a cheerleading uniform, she joined the others when Lady Gaga's hit song blared over the loudspeakers as the concert's main feature, the Johnny Orr Band, took a break.

"I've always wanted to do a flash mob," Smith said. "I think this is my one opportunity."

Dancers ranged in ages from 5 to 62, Williams said.

Friends Tally Pavel, 14, and Selina Mikolowski, 13, both rising freshmen at Corinth Holders High School, took part in the event.

"It's random," Pavel said. "It's, like, not usual."

Part of the fun of flash mobs is meeting new people, said Kailee Earl, 16, a rising junior at Cleveland High School. She also took part in a flash mob Williams put together for the Cleveland community's Strawberry Festival.

At the Clayton mob, she met Chelsy Helton, 26, of Clayton.

"It's a place where everybody comes together and hangs out," Helton said.

Also, she said, she wanted to take part in Williams' gathering. Helton and her husband learned to cha-cha at DPM Studios for their first wedding dance.

"She always has something going on," Helton said of Williams. "I'm here to support her and everything she does."

Last fall, Williams, who teaches classes like salsa and shag, taught dancers the choreography to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Professionals did their hair and makeup, and a videographer taped the performance.

"It was awesome," Williams said.

As for the flash mob, Williams said "Born This Way" was a perfect song choice.

"I feel like the song lets you express and be who you are," she said.