Generally, airport visits are tiring, unsurprising affairs. Most people don’t actually want to be there, painstakingly waiting for their flight to arrive and counting down the hours before reaching their onward destination.
But imagine walking through an airport, rushing to make your upcoming flight and all of sudden a group of dancers step into the fold and start performing silky smooth jazz dance routines out of nowhere. It would be incredible.
What starts out as a regular day on November 22nd, 2011 in the Denver International Airport eventually turns into something special. All is normal in Jeppesen Terminal, a large space with a high ceiling and wide-open floor plan that acts as an important hub of foot traffic. People are minding their business, either lounging or readying themselves to catch their next flight when suddenly, jazz music starts playing and dancers enter the terminal’s center.
Flash mobs are an incredibly rare sight, but a privilege to see publicly. They’re defined as a rehearsed, seemingly spontaneous assembly of individuals in a public space. The element of surprise is inherent and used advantageously. Flash mobs generally come in the form of well-choreographed dances, and historically, have varied from small groups to thousands of people, according to Delnext.com.
For the Denver International Airport flash mob, the first song on the docket is Glenn Miller’s “In the Mood” – a classic American bop. A few dancers make moves in motion to the music, with onlookers simultaneously puzzled, surprised, and impressed.
This specific style of dancing falls in line with the Lindy Hop, performed to a medley of swing classics.
What was originally only a handful of dancers quickly flocks into something greater, with heightening sophistication and choreography throughout the duration of the performance.
Impressive acrobatic flips start making their way into the choreography, to the (further) surprise of onlookers. By this point, a dense audience has formed around the dance floor. Cheers and gasps can be heard making their way through the crowd.
Soon enough, even more dancers enter the scene, creating a full-blown spectacle. Footage from the airport’s second story paints a very revealing portrait.
The dancers continue their routine over the course of a handful of songs, with increasing sophistication and volume. About 100 total dancers were featured, in general. The performance only lasts for a few minutes, with the closing act featuring a variety of smooth moves and couple-based choreography, leading into a quick, powerful finale.
And just like that, the flash mob concludes as quickly as it began, its members dispersing inconspicuously into the crowd as if nothing had happened.
The performance was clearly deeply rehearsed, possibly for months. The performers obviously had a great time as shown by the smiles on their faces – as did the growing crowd. That regular Colorado day turned into an unforgettable one for the performers and onlookers alike.
For more information on flash mobs, including a video collection of the greatest flash mobs of all time, check out this curated list at Delnext.com.
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