EDITORIAL - Peace dance: These mobs Downtown were a flash of creativity

During a week in which authorities hope "mob" and "Pittsburgh" don't appear too often in the same sentence, three "flash mobs" brought much needed lightness and levity to Downtown for a few minutes Monday.

At 1:15 p.m. sharp, three highly coordinated groups of Point Park University students materialized at PPG, Oxford and Steel plazas. The flash mobs, each consisting of 100 students, linked hands and danced for three minutes before dispersing. They danced to a medley of such anarchist anthems as Kool & the Gang's "Celebration," the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love," Neil Diamond's "America" and Sister Sledge's "We Are Family."

It was a whimsical way of welcoming national and international visitors for the G-20. Kiesha Lalama-White, Point Park's contemporary jazz instructor, choreographed the dance to show the power of artistic collaboration and that a large group of young people can project a positive message.

What can be more charming than a cheeky, "spontaneous" gesture by 300 dancers presenting the well-scrubbed side of anarchy just as barriers are beginning to appear around the Golden Triangle? Who knows if there will be opportunities for more smiles as the G-20 summit commences, but we should all be grateful for these students who had the vision and boldness to make us forget our anxieties for a few minutes, at least.