Winter 2012 Edition

SAN FRANCISCO BAY - On Saturday November 19, over 100 people danced at Occupy San Francisco and Occupy Oakland locations in the One People Flash mob. A flash mob is a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual activity for a brief time, and then disperse. The action was organized by Magalie Bonneau-Marcil, founder of Dancing Without Borders and co-sponsored by CODEPINK Women for Peace and NOW (National Organization for Women). Movers of all ages, races and socio-economic backgrounds, converged to dance a high-energy message of connection, resilience, reconciliation and solidarity. “I got involved,” shares David Kant Wofford, “because of my interest in justice, equality, and humanity, and also, because the flash mob involved dance and movement which embodied a level of joy.” In San Francisco, a huge crowd gathered to witness the action, staged in the space between the Occupy SF encampment and the bustling Saturday Farmer’s Market. In Oakland, the dance kicked off a march to reinstate the Occupation that was raided on November 14th. The dance illustrated a cry of pain against oppression, control and degradation, and invoked a powerful bridge of reconciliation between the 99% and the 1% - a bridge that can span the chasm of class divide through the recognition of shared humanity. The dance, which began with a freeze, drew the attention of passersby by illustrating the feelings of being stuck and powerless. It culminated in a dramatic moment when two participants, representing the 99% and the 1%, shook hands, hugged, and rejoined the circle of dancers.

In Oakland, the whole crowd got involved, calling, “take his hand,” and “Do it!” As the two made contact, many people, both dancers and onlookers, had tears in their eyes. Jo Saunders shares her letter to the Re-evaluation

More Information:
DancingWithoutBorders.org
dancingfreedom.com

YouTube: OnePeopleFlashMob