Video Memories: The Rockin’ Around the Mall Flash Mob of 2010

Remember the that broke out at the Dec. 22 of 2010?

It’s best to view that event in nostalgia, rather than in reality, organizers say.

It won’t be replicated this year.

“The main reason we're not pursuing a flash mob this year is that we feel that last year's event was a truly magical holiday community experience for everyone involved, and the odds of outdoing it are extremely low,” said Dave Bittner, who with his wife, Ilana, runs the Howard County-focused mobile journalism site HoCoMoJo.

The Bitters, along with Pam Land, lead theater arts teacher for the Howard County school system and director of theater arts at River Hill High School, Sally Livingston, the director of theater arts at Marriott's Ridge High School, organized the event last year.

The flash mob was Land’s idea, Bittner said.

Hundreds of grinning ‘shoppers’ seemed to spontaneously break out into a coordinated jig in the food court to “Rockin Around The Christmas Tree.”

“Many of whom would probably not have any other reason to meet, had come together to showcase how special the Howard County community really is,” . “The dancing itself was so much fun that I couldn't help but grin when we struck the final pose. Then we dispersed quickly beneath a shower of applause.” 

This year, the flash mob will have to remain a pleasant remnant of Christmas past.

“We feel it best to leave everyone with that great feeling and those wonderful memories, rather than try to outdo ourselves this year,” Bittner said.