Please, please watch this video of a dancing flash mob made up of Point Park University students. This took place yesterday at the US Steel plaza and was their attempt to greet the G-20 with peace, art, and kickass motherlovin’ DANCING!
The good stuff starts at :45 in, so watch it and then we’re going to talk about it and by that I mean, I’m going to tell you how I feel about it.
I know! SQUEE!
Why squee? SO many reasons, but let me tell you three:
1. Whoever that brave soul is that started the dance all by himself. HUGS!
2. Since Footloose, since Grease, since Grease 2 (I KNOW!), since Scrubs, since Buffy, since Enchanted, since High School Frickin’ Musical, I have always thought why can’t we live in a world where suddenly large crowds of people burst into choreographed song and dance?! How awesome, I have thought, would it be to be walking through Point Park when suddenly, out of nowhere, “It’s a Hard-knock Life” starts blaring and all the people who take their lunch to the Point because they hate their jobs and wish life were different, suddenly burst into a dance that fully utilizes the entire rim of the fountain? And umbrellas. Lots of colorful umbrellas a-twirling and a-tossing.
I am so so so jealous that I wasn’t there when this happened because I would have freaked the hell out at the sheer awesomeness of this.
3. THIS is how you get your message across. You throw a brick through a window in Pittsburgh and I will hate you and everything you stand for and if you so much as ask me for directions to your tent city, I will send you on a path so ridiculous you’ll end up in the scariest parts of the Hill District, or as we call it, Westhampsminstershire, where you’ll beg those very police you hate, to save your miserably misguided life.
However, you sing and dance about it, you bring me joy while telling me what you’re so pissed off about, hell, I’m going to listen to you and then quickly guide you back to your tent city, and maybe even stop on the way to buy you a donut.
Just think, anarchists, instead of pissing this entire city off with your stupid destruction, why not use this rainy downtime to make up a song and dance that speaks to your cause? Call it “Capitalist Pigs” set to the tune of “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major General” and I, along with 20 world leaders, will pull up a lawn chair and clap like you’re killing pigeons.
I am the very model of a modern major anarchist
I’ve information scary ’bout those nasty pigs capitalist.
I hate the kings of England, and I fought the fights historical
From Pittsburgh here to London too, in order west to east-acle.
I’m totally on to something, and you know it.
DO IT!
All you kids that danced are the next Awesome Burghers and your giant pats on the back are in the mail.
Also, clearly, I need to write a Broadway musical.
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bluzdude Says:
I love flash mob stunts… that’s my kind of anarchy.
“east-acle”… snort/laff! The things we won’t do to rhyme…
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John in the Rocks Says:
If you do write a musical, it should definitely be about destroying pigeons.
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Stacey Says:
I’d totally see your musical! That’s how you can raise $ for the Children’s Hospital!
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one-eyed dick Says:
This is, indeed, a very cool video.
Two things, though:
1) Why is it that the older I get, the younger college kids become?
2) Not one goddam pigeon in the whole park! How did you do that? Is your plan for world pigeon domination working? -
Jules Says:
Best thing I’ve seen since that video of the mob in the train station that danced to Do Re Me from the Sound of Music. Yay Pittsburgh and Point Park. This just made my day.
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TwinMamaTeb Says:
just awesome!
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Chris Says:
I thought it was a terrific stunt and I completely agree with you. Spread the message through song and dance, and I will listen to you. Use violence, protests and destruction and I won’t give you the time of day.
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Cassie Says:
Amazing!
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Carly Says:
Turns out there were three groups doing simultaneously in the US Steel Plaza, Oxford Center and PPG Place.
http://www.post-gazette.com/multimedia/?videoid=102325&cmpid=mmpanel1
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Novos51 Says:
Capitalist Pigs hear me roar
I don’t what to buy the junk in your store
You push us down to raise you up
And collect our tears in your cupYour cup runneth over with our pain
Our only joy is singing in the rain!Singing in the rain, we are singing in the rain
What a horrible feeling to be disenfrachased againI would watch a dance to this!
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Casey Says:
With your little “I am the very model of a modern..” I am instantly reminded of this scene from Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. So sad it’s gone… such great TV.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9iTOcEHkoo
“We’ll gladly do the favor of an intellectual reacharound”.
See, you can be nasty and classy at the same time.
PS: Much love from a former ‘Burgher living in Austin, TX!
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Pensgirl Says:
If anyone breaks into any songs from Annie, I will shoot them on sight, but all other songs are welcome.
You’re exactly right about the right way and the wrong way to get a message across. These kids did it the right way. And honestly, even if there isn’t a broader message behind a group’s song-and-dance stunts, they put a stamp of fun on people’s humdrum days, and we could all use more of that.
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summer78 Says:
Proud to be Point Park alum!
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Capt. Dummy Says:
ha! that was pretty cool! great job dancers!!!
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lovesthenorthside Says:
good use of jazz hands. would it be too much to hope for that this is the kind of pittsburgh the world could see during the g20?
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L-A Says:
that is a beautiful thing…love love love
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rose Says:
awesome!!
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Three Says:
Agree with you whole-heartedly on 99% percent of this entry. The 1% I disagree with is spelling “doughnut” as “donut.” The Dunkin propaganda/agenda has even reached you!
However, great job by the Point Park students, and a great video. Nice to see some people can make a point without hurting anyone or anything.
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pghgeorge Says:
I just showed your post to all my students here at PTI in Oakdale.
I tweeted it and plastered it all over Facebook.
Fantastic!!! -
Dave Says:
I’m so happy I go to Point Park…. Yet so sad that I knew nothing of this, otherwise I woulda totally been in on it!!!
By the way…. your version of the Modern Major General made me very happy inside : )
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Mary Lu Says:
Incredible! This made my day, thanks so much for posting
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Bram R Says:
Okay Ginny, I really must protest — when I saw this last night I also thought it was neat, and it made me happy, but I don’t see how this can honestly be compared to the protests. Can anyone tell me what their “point” was that everyone is congratulating them for getting across? Other than the fact that Point Park University is here too, and excels with the dancing?
I went to about three protest events yesterday, they all consisted of small groups of people sitting in a circle talking, or people manning tables with literature on them and talking, one panel discussion — all very dense stuff. But no violence, no property damage, not even any chanting or sign-waving, and everybody seemed freshly showered. I didn’t hear “down with capitalism” once. I do think the protesters’ unpleasantness and radicalism is getting hugely exaggerated.
But I guess my point here is I’m uncomfortable with the idea that political protesters should be compared to dancers whose only mission is to make people feel good. I would imagine a few of them might argue that it’s our consumer culture that has conditioned us to tune out and resent anybody who has a challenging, complex message and who’s not shaking their booties for our enjoyment.
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G-Man Says:
When I read your list of movies and TV shows with big “spontaneoous” dance numbers, I noticed you left out this year’s joyful film “(500) Days of Summer.” If you haven’t seen it yet, you really need to seek it out. There’s a very “Enchanted”-like dance scene to the tune of Hall & Oates “You Make My Dreams Come True.”
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facie Says:
I am all for breaking into song and dance. I wish more people would do it. When I worked in the dishroom at a dining hall at Penn State back in the early 90s, I would often break into song and get others to go along. I miss those days.
While at my last job, I sang a few times in the middle of the day. People there were not nearly as receptive. I guess that is what happens when you become a grownup (and when your voice is not kick-ass).
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Virginia Says:
Bram, please go back and read the post again to see if I directed one word of it to “protesters” or if it was all directed to “anarchists” hell-bent on destruction. Go ahead. I’ll be here when you get back.
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mark Says:
Bram R, you must of not noticed their Peace shirts. It was just their why of saying “HEY PROTESTORS DON’T F UP OUR CITY!”
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Jeepin Says:
hmmm…didnt they try this in Cop Rock a long time ago?
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BIGGEORGE Says:
As it has been said before so well…
“But when you talk about destruction
Don’t you know that you can count me out ”
—-the beatlesThese videos are something I shared with friends all over the world this morning.
BIGGEORGE
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gunnlino Says:
BRAM; The more elderly you become the more of the ultimate curmudgeon you become.
Don’t you ever, ever have anything pleasant to say about anything?
What happened, did someone take your GI Joe toy when you were a child?
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Ant_041 Says:
Who the hell are these People (I don’t mind the dancing) does any of those people work??
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Bram R Says:
Ginny – I guess when you said you’d guide them back to their “Tent Cities”, I assumed you were talking about Code Pink and Bail Out the People ie the regular nice protesters, the ones actually hosting the Tent Cities. A misunderstanding. Besides which, I’m pretty sure I don’t believe in anarchists anymore.
All – It didn’t appear, but at the end of that rant I wrong without the spaces in the middle. I was hoping that would kind of take the bitchy edge off.
Gunnlino – I said I enjoyed it, right? That it made me happy? I just don’t think it’s fair to counterpoint a shroomy dance against people with something a little more complex and yes, inherently depressing to communicate. Apparently however that’s not what our blogger intended, but I don’t mind having pointed it out in case anyone else misunderstood.
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Bram R Says:
Gah! This is impossible! “It didn’t appear, but at the end of that rant I wrote:
HTML humor.
(You’re all plotting against me…)
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Bram R Says:
GAH! That didn’t work either! Forget it….
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BagitTagit Says:
America??? Neil Diamond???
Hello???
“Ah! Leah!” – Donny Iris
Missed Opportunities…
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Sooska Says:
@Ant- read the freakin’ post- Point Park STUDENTS… HELLO!?
@Bram- read the freakin’ post -or do your own news research. They were dancing for “global peace and unity,” as well as a peaceful G-20 summit. See the online PG for more info. I am not going to link it for you.
There are many legitimate causes and advocates of them who protest; don’t lump them all together with the anarchists.
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Kathy Says:
Bram: That’s because all the “protesters” were out gathering poop. Yesterday, the police found bags of horse poop under almost every orange traffic cone….Today, on my way to work at the US Steel Building, a man was stopped with not one, but TWO giant black trash bags filled with poop.
Nothing gets your message across more than giant steamin’ bags of poo.
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bluzdude Says:
Yes… the Say It With Feces Bouquet!
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Jim Says:
Did anyone else notice they formed a peace sign at the end of the dance?
What’s so funny ’bout peace love and understanding?
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RavishingRick Says:
Didn’t see you out there shakin your thing
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e$ Says:
umm… i love a flash mob, any day. any time. my one quibble here is that this particular one was not spontaneous (most aren’t) but this one was well choreographed by PP faculty and FUNDED by Colcom, interesting one of the Foundations/Sites that is trageted for protest the G20 resistance groups… I am not aledging anything here about COLCOM trying to steal the thunder away from other protest groups, or get the mainstream media to focus on non-sensical protests instead of ones that make a real statement, but if i was an anti-corporate, anti-establishment, anti- G20, anti-globalization type of gal (and i am not saying that I am), i would be suspicious of the ’spontaneous’ flash mob…
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e$ Says:
oh and just as a side note, anyone that has been “savin’ up” their poop and pee gleefully for the last few weeks in anticipation of the G20 needs to TRULY get a job… or a at least a healthy fantasy football addiction.
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Randy Says:
I like this one better, It also happened yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxjEG6U3–4
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Different Brian Says:
I was walking back to my building and saw a horde of people, many of them in orange shirts with peace signs on front. I wondered what they were just doing… that had that look of, we were just doing something. Shut up, its totally a look.
Anyway now I know what they were doing… and wish I would have been a few minutes quicker.
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Carol Says:
Thanks for sharing this! Definitely a better way to get the message across. Another fun mob dance was performed in a train station in Antwerp, Belgium to Julie Andrews “Do-re-mi” It’s cheesy but so much fun to watch, especially if you like the Sound of Music! check it out on you tube. I tried to paste the link but it was too long. Can’t wait to try the restaurant. Best of luck to you and your family.
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butcher's dog Says:
One-eyed dick: college kids aren’t getting younger. They stay exactly the same age forever. That only leaves one alternative.
In case anyone didn’t know, Point Park has a kick-ass dance and theatre program. This should make every recruiting video from now on.
Ginny: I’ll buy a ticket to your musical when it stages. Maybe two.
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Ang Says:
I couldn’t agree more. I swear, sometimes I feel like I’m the only person in the world that randomly bursts out in song and dance…ok not so much dance, but the song part.
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Shadyshide hopsital on lockdown | Pittsburgh Metblogs Says:
[...] know for certain if it was a protestor. But either way, I’m goin got let Ginny take this one: You throw a brick through a window in Pittsburgh and I will hate you and everything you stand for [...]
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Norm Says:
That was pretty awesome, too bad the cameraman was wandering around like a drunken sailor.
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Matt Says:
Great show.
One eyed dick and butcher’s dog — Believe me, it’s even more embarassing when they stop looking young enough to be your kids, and start looking like your grandkids. -
malbrec92 Says:
Is that Wilder Valderrama at 1:22?
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Amber Says:
I forgot about Westhampsminstershire. Awesome!!
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pghgeorge Says:
I’ve watched this over and over today, and now I understand what’s been tickling my brain. Just as the Athenians believed the gods smiled upon their city, and later Florence believed much the same. I now think God (or the higher power of your choice) is smiling on our city. Maybe its sentimental, but WT Effies.
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Monty Says:
I don’t mean to get off track here, but isn’t “One-Eyed Dick” redundant?
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chrys Says:
I LOVE FLASH MOBS!!!! I think they are so cool. I wish I could have been there to see it in person!! Loved th peace sign at the end!
Thanks for postin this!!
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richrovs Says:
That was great!!!
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Still A. Fan Says:
is the person accusing flash mobs of not being spontaneous serious? hello? captain obvious, hellooooooooo?
to leave Moonlighting out of #2 is an insult. I demand an apology for all the people in my age group!!!!
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Ryn Says:
Normally I am a fan of the things you have to say, but the G20 commentary on the whole has been poorly put, as though they were all thoughtless ramblings. Why such the focus on anarchists when there is only one anarchist march and some smaller events planned for the entire week? You are buying into the mainstream media’s spin and sensationalism by caring so much about this one group’s set of tactics. Does it ever occur to anyone that the only reason they wreak havoc outside is because there is no space allowed for them inside to express their ideologies? Maybe if the G20 Summit included plans to restore basic human/individual rights or touted methods of solving world problems by means other than capitalist ventures, they’d have no reason to want to disrupt it in the first place…they might put on their best rags and join them at the table if they were invited!
“You throw a brick through a window in Pittsburgh and I will hate you and everything you stand for…” Not a lot of these protesters come to throw bricks. Most of them just want to be heard and to make their points without restriction on their rights. In most cases you’d be looking at a peaceful and contained protest if it weren’t for the overreaction of police and other security forces. When people start to perceive that their rights are being violated is when things get messy, and our city did a great job setting the stage by passing those lovely ordinances that restrict free expression of dissent. Unfortunately, police often make mistakes in judgment and wind up doing something to provoke those people who would only resort to violence/rioting if they felt that they were being treated unjustly. These events are confusing and chaotic for imported cops with little to no experience or training in containing mass demonstrations to handle and yes, some people show up just to cause trouble – but that doesn’t mean we have to gas and blindly bludgeon everyone who shows up to demonstrate, just let the few who show up with destruction in mind make the first move while they don’t yet have the support of the crowd mentality.
“…and if you so much as ask me for directions to your tent city, I will send you on a path so ridiculous you’ll end up in the scariest parts of the Hill District.” Ummm, little bit of an unfair generalization of both the Hill and anarchists here. You’re obviously ignorant as to what life on the Hill is actually like, and I imagine some of that comes from the mild racism that is instilled in many residents of this city due to the prominent segregation by housing/neighborhood that persists throughout all parts of this region. And no, I’m not calling you a bring-back-the-slaves-racist, I’m just saying its thoughtless to use this as a threat. In order for it to be a scary experience, you’re also assuming that all of the anarchists are white/middle class/etc. and therefore uncomfortable in urban neighborhoods with a large African American population and some crime and poverty issues, which is just not true on the points that the diversity of demonstrators (anarchists included) has been impressive and the fact that a lot of them would delight in such circumstances. Heck, the Bailout the People tent city is IN the Hill itself! People of all colors, ages and abilities are defenselessly camped out in tents and *gasp* welcoming neighborhood residents to share in their activities; which, while I was there today, included group discussions, meals and general fellowship. On my walk home – yes, I walk in the Hill frequently…and, more often than not, by my skinny, gay, white self – I sensed an air of welcoming in the neighborhood. Residents were gathered on porches having heartfelt and passionate discussions about community and society-wide problems and how to solve them, smiling and saying hello to me as I passed (one lady even complimented my even skinnier, gayer, more radical looking friend’s man purse) and putting up posters of their own decrying global capitalism/lack of healthcare/poverty/hunger/joblessness. The issues that the people of the Hill face on a daily basis are rooted in those systems and policies which the demonstrators have come to denounce…is that really so hard to grasp?
In short, what I’m trying to say is that I love your blog but I’m having trouble feeling the love when such complex problems are treated in such a shallow manner. By cheapening the issues in the way that you have, you’re doing a disservice to 99% of the legitimately intellectual affinity groups that are in our city doing their thing – whether we like it or not – for the next few days. Likewise, you’re contributing to the defeatist conclusion that nothing good will come of the large-scale dissent when, in reality, its more likely that the decisions made on the INSIDE of the Convention Center will be far more destructive in the end.
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Must See | Midnight Cliff Says:
[...] just read pittgirl’s post about the point park university kids and when i watched the video tears poured. [...]
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jk Says:
False dichotomy alert: there are many anarchist bands and musical groups that do exactly what you wish. Look ‘em up. Though you may not find them “delightful” because they are challenging–like protest is supposed to be (otherwise, it ain’t protest).
Conflation alert: Saying that an event makes you happy, and thus all events fail generally, and specifically are not effective political protest, unless they make you happy is silly enough to get you committed (or at least thrown out of Symbolic Logic 101). Again, that which does not upset cannot cause change, by definition.
This very dance includes music by John Lennon, who is considered tame today, was censored and threatened with violence by a prior generation would was extremely upset with him. Like you, they would have told long-haired hippie activists seeking John Lennon to go wander into a dangerous hellhole.
Incidentally, most of us only know about the WTO because of anarchists with their naughty bricks, relevant pranks and, yes, music back in Seattle. No “flash mob” did or could do that. Why? Because, again, protest is supposed to be challenging. What did this little dance convince you of?
This was simply a bunch of kids doing something that 40 years ago would have been wild and impressive and today is tame and cute. Gush away if you want, but don’t dare present yourself as an expert on change, suasion or courage.
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Pensgirl Says:
Ryn, you missed the point utterly and completely. You can’t assume every mention of the anarchists is meant to imply or incorporate the broader set of protesters. Sometimes, as with Ginny’s posts and the vast majority of the ensuing comments, references to “anarchists” really just means “anarchists.”
Ginny has never said she doesn’t support dissent or that she’s anti-protester. Nor did most of the rest of the people. It’s not about what people’s messages are; it’s about how they deliver them. The self-proclaimed anarchists are the focus because they are the ones threatening to do harm to our city.
People who choose peaceful or, like the above video, positive delivery methods are welcome, even if we don’t all agree with their various points of view. People who choose destructive message-delivery methods or who are coming to be violent for the sake of violence are the only ones most of us are worried about. It’s pretty insulting to people’s intelligence to think they are confusing those destructive few with the larger group, especially in the face of comments that indicate otherwise.
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Summer Says:
Jazz hands PLUS peace signs? How can you not love it?
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bucdaddy Says:
The alma mater does bucdaddy proud. Although I’m here to tell you, you haven’t died till you’ve got on an elevator with a dozen dance majors who just got out of a vigorous class, and it stops at every floor on your way to 18. That’s a hella long time to hold your breath.
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Bram R Says:
Two links: First, something very much in a Point Park style vein is employed by political demonstrators advocating for renewable energy:
And Rauterkus wins the Award for Best Title in a Blog Post Having to Do With This Dance:
http://rauterkus.blogspot.com/2009/09/to-do-it-over-again-boys-be-dancers.html
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Andrea Says:
@ jk, #59, you make an unsupported — and indefensible — assertion: “Again, that which does not upset cannot cause change, by definition.” By definition? In whose dictionary?
Ideas that inspire can cause change. Inspiring people is a lot harder route to take, but only bullies and cowards take the shortcut. Those are the destructive protesters, terrorists of a sort, whose hope is to get what they want by making us afraid of what will happen if they don’t.
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Amy Says:
I don’t care why they did it, I just think it was pretty awesome. I wish I had been there to see it.
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Bonnie Says:
I just loved it! We need more of it. They really make me feel better. It’s about time someone stood up and said let’s do it. I’m glad they did it.
It beat watching gas bombs and unruly individuals.
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Xena Pengweena Says:
Sure was a nice demonstration of peace, joy and spontaneous fun! Wish more folks would just break into song and dance–there’s just too much focus on negativity! This was a great, positive statement. Thank you Point Park!
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That's Church » Bawk-bawk. Says:
[...] [snap].” but really, I’m thinking, “This is kinda dumb.” But you know I love me some flash mobs. And I love me some Chachi who invented “Pants Status” on [...]
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That's Church » Urban skiing = love Says:
[...] got the same feeling watching this video as I did when I first saw the Point Park students dancing. Inherently, they were doing the same thing — interpreting an event in a way that made me [...]
