Flash mob hits Johnson Center [VIDEO]

Those on the three main levels of George Mason University’s Johnson Center were shaken from their routine earlier this month when a flash mob ensued following a student who climbed a table and began dancing to “Moves Like Jagger.”

The flash mob, performed by about 15 members of Mason’s hip-hop dance troupe UrbanKnowlogy 101, preceded a Nov. 10 guest chef event, hosted by Mason Dining, featuring Mai Pham. The performance lasted about three minutes.

“To be there was really electric,” said Ram Nabar, resident district manager of Sodexo food services at Mason, who approached members of the group about the performance idea. “ It gave people goosebumps is the feedback I received.”

The unannounced performance began shortly before 2 p.m., a crowded time for the building, which holds a campus food court. The Maroon 5 song "Moves Like Jagger" hit the sound system first, followed by "Pay Me" by Usher and "We Found Love" by Rihanna.

Shortly after the music started playing, member Katherine Lopes climbed up and started dancing on one of the tables.

From there, members in casual clothing got up from where they were sitting or dropped their backpacks and little by little began to join in. About 15 members of UrbanKnowlogy performed to three different songs, bowed, and went on with their days.

"[The flashmob] was such a rush to be a part of,” said Lopes, who first danced on the table. “I hope we get to do more. [. . .] Definitely made my week."

The Johnson Center performance marked UrbanKnowlogy’s first “official” flashmob, according to Rebecca Barbush, the group’s president, who said some members had participated in flashmobs in the area on their own time. Last spring, the group put together a “flashmob-esque” performance to promote an on-campus party, where members danced in the JC atrium, but it was “simply to get footage and it was late at night.”

UrbanKnowlogy recently published a multi-camera video of the flash mob  (seen above.) Other footage of the event exists, including a video posted on Mason Dining’s Facebook page (and likely on the cameras and phones of those in the crowd watching).

Did you record video of the flashmob? Share what you captured in the comments.

Disclosure: Barbush, UrbanKnowlogy’s president, works in our office, too.

Editor's Note, 7:13 p.m. An earlier version of this piece said Mason Cable Network produced the video. While some videographers from the Office of Student Media participated in the filming, UrbanKnowlogy produced the above video.