Bay Area Flash Mob performs Rhythm Nation

On Sunday, Rachel and I went to the city to check out the Asian Art Museum for its monthly "Free" day.  The museum is conveniently located near the Civic Center Bart station; just on the other side of the Farmer's Market. There was a short line to enter, but it moved quickly and we were inside within 15 minutes.  The museum was nice and much larger than I expected.  There was an abundance of art and artifacts from every corner of the Asian continent and we definitely saw some very interesting things.  However, in all honesty the vases started to look the same after a while.  I think the museum is worth checking out if you live in the area or are on an extended vacation, but it would not be one of the first recommendations I would give to tourists here for a long weekend.

The second reason that we went to the city on Sunday was to see the Bay Area Flash Mob perform Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation:

I have never seen a flash mob in person and saw this as a perfect opportunity since they were performing at Civic Center right next to the Asian Art Museum.  The group started to slowly roll in; easily recognizable in the pseudo-military outfits worn in the original music video.  The demographic make up of the group was surprisingly diverse.  All the participants looked excited and anxious as they milled around prior to the performance.  A crowd started to develop around the area where they were going to perform, so I grabbed a good viewing location and started shooting.

The performance was great!  I was very impressed with the organization and execution of the routine.  In a broader sense, I also think flash mobs are great.  I realize that at this point they have become a little redundant and probably have lost some of the ability to surprise bystanders, but I think they still offer an important outlet for creativity and expression.  One must respect the amount of effort it takes to rehearse and perform such an elaborate dance routine.  Especially, since it is not financially fruitful for anyone involved.  It is simply an example of a group of people getting together to have fun and entertain others.  As I looked around at the faces in the crowd, everyone looked thoroughly entertained.  I must admit that I too was smiling throughout the performance and hope to see another Bay Area Flash Mob soon.

Below are the pictures from my vantage point.  Thank you as always for stopping by Dirty Thirty Photography!