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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

No Travolta, but I can dance for a good cause

By: Sean Angus

Posted: 01/6/2011 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

Reporter Sean Angus (forefront) takes part in Flash Mob Dance. (MIKE.DEAL@FREEPRESS.MB.CA)

There are those who donate money to charitable organizations. Then there are those who make complete fools of themselves in front of a large group of people for charitable organizations. Being in the latter group, I took part in the Movement Centre of Manitoba's first-ever Flash Mob Dance at Polo Park Shopping Centre on Wednesday.

In what seemed like a good idea at the time, I joined about 30 others in a dance to remember.

The Flash Mob Dance was the official launch of the 2011 Move 'N Groove-a-Thon, which runs from noon to midnight April 9 at Red River Exhibition Place. It is Winnipeg's first "inclusive" 12-hour dance-a-thon.

Wednesday's Flash Mob Dance also raised awareness of my inability to dance.

On Wednesday morning, I expected to have a pretty uneventful day. Make a few calls, get a couple of quotes, write a story, then go home. Little did I know the editors had planned something a little different for me. Assistant city editor Carl DeGurse approached me and asked, "How are your dance skills?"

I was confused, but it all became clear when he asked if I would be interested in participating in the Flash Mob Dance at Polo Park. I was a bit skeptical at first, but when will I ever get the chance to do this again?

A couple of hours later, the dance began.

There I was, dancing away in the Centre Court when it occurred to me there's a reason why I don't dance in public.

Surrounded by Flash Mob Dance experts who know the dance like the back of their hands, I felt like a fish out of water.

To my left and right, I gazed upon all the other dancers performing flawless routines. I tried to emulate, to the best of my ability, every move they made.

There's no doubt I stuck out like a sore thumb, but heck, I was having the time of my life. Dancing to a compilation of upbeat tunes, I couldn't help but smile.

Just when I started having fun, the dance ended. It's a good thing I had a photographer there to get some snapshots of my embarrassing blunders during the three-minute routine.

It was followed by a press conference where Terry Smith, honorary chairman of the Movement Centre and executive chairman of Boyd Autobody & Glass, spoke about his experiences with the Movement Centre.

He suffered a stroke in January 2009 and turned to the Movement Centre for his rehabilitation. Smith doesn't take much for granted in his life.

He told me that after his stroke, he was supposed to be wheelchair bound. Today, with the ability to walk, he said, "Just being able to stand here and talk to you is a thrill."

The Movement Centre of Manitoba is a non-profit organization that helps those with neuro-motor disabilities become more independent.

It was established by Margy Nelson, whose son, Bryce, has cerebral palsy.

The Movement Centre's objective with the Move 'N Groove-a-Thon is to raise $100,000.

For more details and to learn how to register, visit www.movengrooveathon.com.

For those like me, remember that just because you can't dance, doesn't mean you can't help others.

sean.angus@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition January 6, 2011 B3

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