Coming out of much heaviness and separation, on March 20, 2022, togetherness, joy and lots of energy erupted into the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk echoing the contagious jubilation of Jon Batiste’s song "Freedom".
When Jon Batiste released his song, he put a call out for people to send him videos of them singing or dancing to it. Here we answered his call.
Song: "Freedom" by Jon Batiste
From the album "We Are", released 2021
Flashmob and Video Produced by Lucinda Chrisman & Monica Vantoch
Video Edited by Lucinda Chrisman
Flashmob Choreography by Gina Garcia (Worldanz), Lucinda Chrisman, Monica Vantoch
#freedomflashmob
💗💃🏽😍🕺🏻🤩💗💥
What did this mean for some of the participants?
“So much joy to be together with dance & music, and sharing it with the community!” ~Pearly
”For me this was about community, inclusiveness, courage, coordination, generosity, timeliness and fun! ~Mohini
”Spreading joy to onlookers is such a great feeling!” ~Teri
”It was both healing and liberating. I felt a deep sense of belonging.” ~Geneffa
”For me this was an act of self-love.” ~Roxanne
”I felt like we were doing what we could to bring more good positive hopeful energy into the world” ~Veda
”Freedom is something we should cherish, and it should never feel like a bad word!” ~Barbara
”For me it was about joy and freedom in every fiber of my body rippling out to our community and every individual everywhere!” ~ Susie
“I am just so proud humbled and honored to have been a part of it!” ~Crissy
“I got to cross something off my bucket list!!” ~Michelle
“It was so fun to be a participant and be part of something joyful, uplifting!” ~Sylvie
“A somatic rally cry for FREEDOM, for all beings everywhere!!!” ~Veda
“For me, it was a dream come true. It felt so heart-warming to share our kinetic energy and joy. My children had the chance to see their mom be part of an amazing, happy community happening. It was absolutely exhilarating!” ~Margo
“Truly uplifting to be included in such an inspiring group and feel like a real dancer, even though I’m stiff and awkward! Spreading joy to onlookers is such a great feeling!” ~Teri
“It was like getting a joy injection!” ~Mary
“At times, last year especially, life has been brutal, it seemed every day brought things I never thought would happen, along with some extreme divisiveness in our county and country. Freedom is something we all should cherish. It should never feel like a bad word. This flashmob felt as though it brought that back!” ~Barbara
“A positive-vibed group of people… very meaningful after two years of pandemic. I felt a lot of inspiration, excitement, encouragement and connection.” ~Carolyn
“What a wonderful thing to have gotten to connect, move, learn, and laugh with all of you at this particular time... Plus Jon Batiste is such a great artist!” ~Lauren
“I got to do the flash mob with my teenage daughter!! After Covid, there were such awkward feelings for kids. It meant the world to me that my daughter was able to be a part of something so fun, freeing, and part of a greater community. She got to be a part of something to bring joy to others. She got to experience doing something without caring if it was perfect or how others thought about her performance, it was just fun and it wasn't about any individual, it was about us together, bringing joy!! Invaluable lessons learned!” ~Michelle
"This was the first time I felt like my old (young) self again after two years of hibernation! Dancing, laughing with my girlfriends, and not scared to be in a big huge crowd of people!" ~Kristen
“My 3 good friends and I, all in our 70’s, knowing we got to do this and that we all could still do this!” ~Nancy
“That was the BEST food ever for my Soul. My heart is singing!” ~Clara
“Unearthed My Soul ❤️❤️❤️” ~Angelina