Flash mob dances in Perkasie
Chimayo Gallery organizes event to ‘spread happiness’
They were dancing on Market Street in Perkasie this week.
A flash mob, organized by Chimayo Gallery, which owners Alix and Priscilla Gray-Stoll opened in late January, danced to the music of Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.”
“It seems like a very creative town and a place that would be very responsive to this and have a good time with it,” said Kay Wylie-Jacob, who with her daughter, Kamila Jacob, did the choreography.
“We like the song and it’s supposed to spread happiness through the town of Perkasie, or at least the block for now,” Kamila Jacob said. “Love reaching out is what we’re doing here.”
The song embodies core values of the gallery, Priscilla Gray-Stoll said.
The participating dancers and many of the spectators were part of the weeklong Unitarian Universalist Mid-Atlantic Community conference taking place at DeSales University in Center Valley, she said.
This was the 33rd year for the conference, Pam Mann, of Pottstown, a past UUMAC president and director, said.
“We just play and have fun and worship together,” Mann said. “Anyone’s invited. It’s an open camp celebrating Unitarian Universalism basically.”
Kay Wylie-Jacob, who teaches at the Alvin Ailey dance school in New York City, was the only profes- sional dancer involved with the flash mob, Gray-Stoll said.
Although they didn’t have much chance to rehearse, the other participants quickly learned their moves, Wylie-Jacob said.
“They picked it up really fast and they worked really hard and we found some kids to do solos,” she said.
The flash mob was just one of the events held at the gallery, which also has workshops by some of the 45 artists whose work is offered at the gallery, GrayStoll said.
“We would like it to be more than a place to buy things,” she said.
The goal is for it to also be a gathering place where people can share in creativity and artistry, she said.
Following the flash mob dance, the group was planning on walking to the Treasure Trove on Seventh Street in Perkasie, then splitting into two groups, with one going to Kool Licks in Sellersville for ice cream and the other to Free Will Brewing Co. in Perkasie for beer, Gray-Stoll said.
“It’s such a cute little town,” Mann said of Perkasie. “Love it.”
Asked if there will be more flash mobs at the gallery, Gray-Stoll said none are currently planned.
“I guess that’ll just happen if it happens,” she said.