PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — Just after 2 p.m. on a sunny Friday afternoon, the opening notes of “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan rang out across Brown University’s College Green. What began as a handful of students breaking into dance soon swelled into an energetic, coordinated crowd of nearly 100.
The flash mob — a collaboration between No Empty Seats, a student mental-health advocacy organization, and Attitude Dance Company — arrived as the Brown campus was buzzing with preparations for Spring Weekend.
But the performance hit a sudden snag when two public safety officers entered the middle of the dance.
“You can’t be doing this! We're prepping for Spring Weekend! Clear the area!” shouted Campus Police Officer Yaneris Moradel as Chappell Roan’s song faded, drawing a theatrically loud reaction from the group. But the shutdown was just a ruse — as the speakers started blasting the Jacksons' “Blame it on the Boogie,” Moradel and Public Safety Program Coordinator Zara Salmon broke character and joined the choreography, much to the delight of spectators.
As the routine kicked off its final song — Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance with Somebody” — flash mob participants fanned out across the green and pulled willing onlookers into the dance.
“We love doing goofy stuff to cheer people up,” said senior Michael OuYang, founder of No Empty Seats. “And being together in community can really make people feel better about themselves and improve mental health.”
Spearheaded by OuYang and several other students from No Empty Seats and Attitude Dance Company, the flash mob has been in the works for a while. The group spent several weeks planning the performance, releasing a tutorial video and holding three rehearsals in the days leading up to the event. Accessibility and ease of choreography were key, OuYang said.
“This year, we focused on simple line dances and one-two step moves that people can learn in one session,” he said. “We wanted to bring in as many people that might not have a dance background but are willing to do something fun and spontaneous before final exams start.”
No Empty Seats has orchestrated similar flash mobs in previous years. Each one has been a spontaneous expression of joy that aligns with the group’s mission to support student well-being and destigmatize conversations about mental health.
“It’s a way to help people not take things too seriously, especially during finals,” OuYang said. “We had to brighten things up and bring the liveliness back to campus.”
As the dancers dispersed, the high-fives, smiles and lingering laughter on the green suggested the mission was accomplished.