A GROUP of 80 dancers strutted their stuff on Saturday (July 27) in what was believed to be the first flash mob dance in St Ives.
They performed a well-rehearsed routine in Bridge Street on Saturday to the 1960s’ hit Twist and Shout, belted out by musician Matt Harvey.
The stunt was organised by Wayne DuBose of Festival Events St Ives, or FESt. He said: “The idea was planted in my head last year and in January I approached St Ivo School dance instructor Lindsay McAdam to choreograph a dance for a flash mob.”
He said the choice of song was inspired by a scene from the film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Volunteers were recruited to perform the dance, mainly from the St Ivo School’s dancing group and Bootscooterz line-dancing group.
They included sisters Donna, Emma and Kate Stanley, who used the occasion to have a reunion, with Donna travelling from London and Kate flying in from New Zealand, arriving the day before the dance.
The dancers put in many more hours of practice, either individually or in small groups.
Mr DuBose said the footage from Saturday would be posted on YouTube with the intention of promoting St Ives. He added: “It was all over in two and a half minutes, but the journey to get there lasted several months and was a joyous experience for all those who took part.
“The aim is to get thousands of views and put St Ives even more firmly on the map.”
The footage, which is being professionally edited, is due to be posted on YouTube this week.
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