PRINCETON: Dance flash mob descends on Hinds Plaza

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   Princeton got Zouk’d on Sunday afternoon, when about 40 dancers “spontaneously” assembled in Hinds Plaza and started performing..
   Little did the audience know, but they were part of a global flash mob.
   The dancers swaying before them were only a handful of the 3,000 dispersed throughout more than 30 countries and in 84 other cities.
   The YWCA Princeton and the Arts Council of Princeton sponsored the brief event to unite the community via dance, bring attention to Zouk-Lambada dancing,
   Zouk is a new partner dance craze that originated in Rio de Janeiro. It’s mainly danced in Brazil, Australia, the Netherlands and Spain — until now.
   The sudden sounds of live music began at noon, signaling the dancers to emerge from the crowd. Dancers of all ages swirled, spun and swayed — often with eyes closed, hair flowing and smiling faces.
   Once the crowd took in what appeared to be an artfully prepared routine, they began to applaud, whistle and cheer the dancers on.
   The event was the fruition of the collaboration between Zouk dancers and instructors Marie Alonzo, who heads Tangerine Dance Collective in Princeton Junction, and Henri Velandia, who runs HotSalsaHot in Princeton.
   The flash mob incorporated students from both instructors, who had been teaching them the routine for a couple of months.
   ”We do it to bring the community together and show what Zouk is about,” said Ms. Alonzo. She added that her favorite part about Zouk was that it can be danced to any pop song.
   For performer Hisa Izutsu, who instructs Zouk in New York City, the dance is all about connections.
   ”You feel a strong connection with your partner and that connection opens up the mind,” said Ms. Izutsu.
   Mr. Velandia credits himself as the Zouk pioneer of the Princeton area via HotSalsaHot on Route 206 and his other company, Drum and Dance Learning Center in Lawrenceville.
   He fell in love with Zouk two years ago and has been teaching it ever since.
   ”The feeling is very contagious and anyone can do it,” he said.
   Later on, he was planning on bringing the Zouk flash mob craze to New York City. To him, flash mobs weren’t just exciting, but important to have.
   ”They’re spontaneous — unpredictable,” said Mr. Velandia. “It’s like sharing a conversation.”
   Just like it came, the flash mob quickly ended. The sounds of applause tapered off as the crowd dispersed as people went back to their lunches at Witherspoon Grill and their shopping in the downtown — but this time with a little swing in their hips.