Members of the Saanich Police Department in Victoria, Canada, found some extra time in May to perform some community engagement, which included putting on their dancing shoes.
A flash mob at Uptown was planned by 21 policemen from the department and 100 kids from the dance program at the adjacent Spectrum Community School.
Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk,” of course.
The purpose of the event, according to a news release published after the event, was “to create a special relationship between students and police.”
“This was accomplished by participating in dance classes with the students, where cops and kids could laugh together and work toward a common goal of dancing in a flash mob together.”Dancing in public as part of a flash mob was clearly beyond most officers’ comfort zones, but they were prepared to take a risk in order to create a great and lasting experience for our community.”
Officers not only attended dancing sessions alongside the kids, but they also practiced on their own time.
Who taught them the moves? Lia Shannon, a dance instructor at Spectrum Community School, subsequently received the Chief Constable’s Citizenship Award for her involvement in arranging the event.
Lia Shannon receives the Citizenship Award from the Chief Constable. Congratulations! pic.twitter.com/sGytGWQ0Br
pic.twitter.com/sGytGWQ0Br chool (@SpectrumThunder)
“I had no idea that awards exist (@SpectrumThunder) surprise.” Shannon told Victoria News, “I was; so honored and delighted to receive it.”
Roll Focus Productions professionally recorded the dance, and the official version has over 100,000 views on YouTube (though there are additional videos from others present at the event as well).
Putting on a public show featuring 121 individuals is no simple undertaking, but the group’s 4-minute performance successfully surprised shoppers on May 4th.
“I had 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 cops are like, what’s going on?” “And then they come in and surprise the audience,” Shanon explained.
But she doesn’t take credit for the concept; that belongs to Niki Sundher, a member of the Saanich Police Department’s community engagement branch.
Shannon and the dancers had only four days to bring it all together!
“My dancers practiced every day, all day, for four days,” she explained.
The 21 police officers took their jobs seriously, attending classes when they could and even attending 2 a.m. instructionals conducted by Shannon to meet their schedules.
“I had 17 police officers in my class at one point.” I was absolutely astounded by how seriously they took it.”
One cop in particular was adamant about getting it properly.
“He came in and worked with me. I informed him that this section was really difficult. But he was dead serious, saying, ‘I’m going to do this.'”
The concert not only drew a large audience and many compliments, but it also achieved its purpose of connecting kids and police officers.
“I thought it would just be a fun project, and I can’t believe the impact it had on the community,” Shannon said, adding that she has seen advantages for her pupils as well. “The connections the kids made with the cops.” They are relieved to see these cops today. It makes for an interesting friendship.”
Please scroll down to witness the performance for yourself!