Flash Mob Raises Awareness About Polio

What started as an idea here in Palm Harbor, has grown into a statewide campaign to raise awareness about polio. On March 2, about 600 Florida Rotarians will perform a flash mob in Orlando.  

"To have all these people support us here in the studio and throughout the state of Florida, it's absolutely heartwarming to see it all come together," says Rotarian Jamie Mick, who came up with the idea of organizing a flash mob after seeing one on Oprah.

Mick is a Palm Harbor realtor and an avid dancer who takes classes at Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Palm Harbor. Mick says when she told Arthur Murray owner, Lania Berger about her flash mob idea, Berger was enthusiastic about helping out. 

"I think what the Rotarians have done for polio so far is absolutely fantastic," said Berger. "We were happy to open our doors to Rotarians and look forward to many other community members to come and dance with us," she said.

Tuesday evening, four Rotarians practiced their flash mob moves with the help of Arthur Murray dance instructors Frances Cuprill-Comes and David Schmidt. The Rotarians loved bustin' a move on the dance floor.

"How often can you be involved in a flash mob at my age?" said Craig McCart, 61, of New Port Richey.

Welch Agnew, who lives in Dunedin was happy to be back on the dance floor, "It's pretty neat, I haven't been in a studio since I was five," he said.

"I like it because it brings focus to polio and how we're going to eradicate it," said Diane Sharp, of Palm Harbor.

The group will perform the flash mob to Coldpay's, "Every Tear is a Waterfall". Some of the dance moves -like "heavy heart" and "holding world"- have a significant meaning related to the eradication of polio. 

The group also plans on performing the flash mob again at a Rotarian gathering in Tarpon Springs coming up in May.

Arthur Murray Dance Studio is located at 34930 U.S. 19 (727) 786-2224

Learn more about Rotary International

Learn more about Rotary Club's Polio Plus campaign 

Other stories you might like-

Dancers Get Into the Groove During National Dance Day

Local Dancers Featured Thursday Night on Fox's So You Think You Can Dance

Arthur Murray celebrates 100 Years of Teaching the World to Dance