In Victoria, Canada, members of the Saanich Police Department decided to take a unique approach to community outreach one May.
Amazingly, they stepped out of their usual roles to don their dancing shoes.
This idea quickly took shape as twenty-one officers joined forces with 100 students from Spectrum Community School’s dance program to create an unforgettable flash mob performance.
The song of choice for this lively event? None other than Bruno Mars’ hit, “Uptown Funk.”
The aim of this initiative, according to a press release from the Saanich Police Department, was to “create a special relationship between students and police.”
The event allowed officers and students to engage in a fun and light-hearted way, laughing and working together toward the shared goal of performing in public.
To prepare for the flash mob, the officers attended dance classes alongside the students, practicing in their own time.
Spectrum Community School’s dance teacher, Lia Shannon, played a pivotal role in the preparation, choreographing the routine and guiding both the students and the officers through the steps.
Her efforts were later recognized when she was awarded the Chief Constable’s Citizenship Award.
Reflecting on the recognition, Shannon told Victoria News,
“It was truly such a surprise, I had no idea that award existed even. I was so honoured and delighted to receive it.”
The dance routine was professionally recorded by Roll Focus Productions and has since garnered tons of views on YouTube.
This success shows the hard work and dedication of all involved, particularly given the short timeline they had to prepare.
Shannon revealed that the entire routine was put together in just four days, with her dancers practicing diligently throughout that period to perfect their moves.
On the day of the event, May 4th, the performance began with Shannon’s advanced dancers initiating the routine.
As the crowd watched, the remaining dancers joined in, followed by the officers, who initially acted as if they were just part of the onlookers.
This element of surprise captivated the audience and added an extra layer of excitement to the performance.
“My advanced dancers start it and then I had the rest of my dancers come in, so I had about 100 dancers, and then the police are acting like, what’s going on. And then they come in and that’s when they surprise the crowd,” Shannon explained.
Interestingly, the idea for the flash mob didn’t originate with Shannon; it was actually proposed by Niki Sundher, a member of the Saanich Police’s community engagement division.
Despite the limited preparation time, the officers took their involvement very seriously.
Many attended classes whenever they could, even participating in instructional sessions held as early as 2 a.m. to accommodate their demanding schedules.
Shannon noted, “I had 17 police officers at one time in my class. I was just so impressed with how serious they took it.”
One officer in particular was determined to master the dance, approaching Shannon for extra practice.
“He came in and practiced with me. I told him, this part is really difficult. But he was super serious and said, ‘I’m going to do this.’”
This commitment to getting it right was indicative of the overall enthusiasm and dedication displayed by the officers.
The flash mob wasn’t just a fun display; it also fulfilled its primary objective of fostering positive relationships between the students and the police.
“I thought it would just be a fun project and I can’t believe the impact it had on the community,” said Shannon.
She noted that the initiative had far-reaching benefits, particularly in how the students now perceive the police.
“The connections the kids made with the police officers. They’re happy to see these officers now. It makes for a neat relationship.”
The event was not only a great success but also a memorable experience for everyone involved.
Watch their spectacular performance for yourself below!
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