Flash Mob Strikes Candler Park Fall Fest

A flash mob of kids from Mary Lin Elementary (and a few big kids at heart) broke out into dance Saturday, as part of the weekend-long Candler Park Fall Fest.

The kids, who danced to Katy Perry's Firework, were in keeping with the theme of the day as many of the musical acts performing on the main stage were members of the junior set.

East Atlanta Patch asked flash mob organizer and Mary Lin parent Peggy Edwards about how it all came to fruition and here's what she told us:

"I was running one day and this Katy Perry song came on my iPod and I really just wanted to break out in dance...um...but didn't. Just kept running (and looking for oxygen...or a bud light).

Anyway, I thought, 'wouldn't it be great if the kids at Mary Lin could do a flash mob? It would be a great way to see that exercise can be fun!'

I must say that I ran a little faster after thinking of that and wanting to organize it right away! I ran it by a few friends the next day and they said YES...DO IT!

So I came up with a routine, which is funny in itself because I am a former field hockey and lacrosse player — not a lot of finesse. I choreographed a routine, taking a few moves from Zumba classes and a few moves from my '80s upbringing. We had one meeting with a few moms and came up with some ideas about organizing.

I taught a few moms the routine and then we recorded it and put it on You Tube. We had many outlets to get the word out, yet trying to keep it a secret. I first taught a group of 5th grade Girl Scouts then held optional practices two times a week. One at 7:15 a.m. and one at 2:45 p.m. As if that wasn't enough, the PE teacher at Lin let me use 15 minutes of PE classes to show the kids.

WOW...did it catch on! The 3rd grade team of teachers was AMAZING! One teacher offered great incentives for kids who showed 10-second videos of them practicing with their families. Another teacher took the last five minutes of school several days to practice in the classroom. This past Friday, there was a rehearsal (again, not mandatory at all) at the actual spot where we were going to perform in Candler Park. There were maybe about 50 people. BUT TODAY....HOLY MACKEREL!.....SO MANY kids and adults were there joining the group. It honestly was one of the best things I've been a part of in a long time.

We have a GREAT community here at Mary Lin. The children are so happy and definitely feel that sense of togetherness. They were SO excited which was EXACTLY what I was going for....all while working up a sweat! It will be something I will ALWAYS remember."