Dance in a flash mob
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
You learn a short routine with a group of strangers over a few rehearsals, then burst into it together in a shopping centre, a square or a festival crowd. Routines are kept simple, and several groups say no previous dance experience is needed.
ModerateUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoors or outWith othersUK and US
What it's really like
Community flash mobs teach one routine to everyone, usually at a handful of rehearsals. For a 2026 flash mob opening the Sham Jam Festival in Melksham, the routine was designed to be easy to learn, with an open rehearsal the week of the performance and no booking required. Dylan Quinn Dance teaches its routines at free rehearsals and adds an online step-by-step tutorial for practice at home.
Some groups ask more of you. Chicago Thriller Flash Mob requires at least three rehearsals before you can perform, and the International Line Dance Flashmob offers arm-only and wheelchair-accessible versions of its choreography. Where you dance matters too. In Trafalgar Square, for example, the byelaws require written permission from the Mayor, or someone the Mayor authorises, to organise or take part in any performance.
Ways to take part
| Who | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| Mojo Moves, Melksham | Open rehearsal at Melksham Assembly Hall, then a performance opening the Sham Jam Festival (September 2026); no previous dance experience needed | No fee mentioned; register by email |
| Dylan Quinn Dance | Free rehearsals plus an online step-by-step tutorial; all ages and a mix of abilities welcome | Free |
| International Line Dance Flashmob, The Galleria, Hatfield | Line dance flashmob (2 May 2026), open to experienced and new line dancers, with arm-only and wheelchair-accessible versions | Free; groups encouraged, where possible, to donate £1 per dancer to the Line Dance Foundation |
| Chicago Thriller Flash Mob | Learn the Thriller choreography for Halloween performances; at least three rehearsals to perform | $85, or a payment plan |
| Thrill The World | Fan-run global Thriller dance (24 October 2026), with local groups around the world | No fee listed; donations accepted for charities |
Dates are from the most recent listings and many of these events come round each year, so check the organiser's page for the next one.
How to start
- Look for a community flash mob near you through a local dance company, a festival or town council, or a group such as a Thriller dance mob.
- Go to the rehearsals, or use the online tutorial if the organisers provide one, and practise at home until the steps feel easy.
- Check where and when to gather on the day, and leave permissions to the organisers; some public spaces need written permission for any performance.
Where to go
- Melksham Independent News: community flash mob planned for Melksham UK
- Dylan Quinn Dance: Flash Mob UK
- Chicago Thriller Flash Mob (Meetup) US
- Thrill The World: global Thriller dance
We opened these links on 12 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Two ways to plan it.
Plan it yourself Free
The links you need to book it, get there, find somewhere to stay and eat, and see what else there is to do nearby. They are searches for you to run; nothing is saved.
Show the links
Plan it with dates
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. The hard part of a day out is the timing: the right season, tickets and getting there. The plan watches the calendar for you.
Questions people ask
How do I join a flash mob near me?
Look for local dance companies, festivals and town councils that recruit volunteers, or a Thriller dance group. Melksham's 2026 flash mob asked people to register by email.
Do you need dance experience to be in a flash mob?
Usually not. The Melksham routine needed no previous dance experience, and Dylan Quinn Dance welcomes a mix of abilities, including people who have not danced since primary school.
How many rehearsals does a flash mob need?
It varies. Melksham held an open rehearsal in the week of the performance, while Chicago Thriller Flash Mob requires at least three rehearsals before you perform.
Do you need permission for a flash mob?
Sometimes. In Trafalgar Square, the byelaws require written permission from the Mayor, or someone the Mayor authorises, to organise or take part in any performance, so check the rules for the place you plan to dance.
Where this comes from: Melksham Independent News, Community flash mob planned for Melksham; Dylan Quinn Dance, Flash Mob; Queen's University Belfast Dance Connects, Dylan Quinn; Visit Herts, International Line Dance Flashmob 2026; Chicago Thriller Flash Mob, Meetup; Thrill The World; Greater London Authority, Trafalgar Square byelaws. Opened 12 November 2026.
Read next
Toasters, fans and a red vacuum: the Cincinnati volunteers who have mended nearly 1,400 cast-offs
Cincinnati's Tinker Team has restored nearly 1,400 household electronics in a year and a half, with no budget for parts and no experience needed to join. What they fix, why repair is worth learning, and how to find a repair event near you.
Pub to pub from John o'Groats to Land's End: Gary McKee's 900-mile run for hospitality workers
Gary McKee of Cleator Moor ran about 900 miles from John o'Groats to Land's End in 30 days for the Licensed Trade Charity, with more than 83,000 people taking part online. What a national survey says volunteers get back, and how to turn your own miles into a team fundraiser.
More like this
Moderate
Learn to dance salsa
Gentle
Try a line dancing class
Moderate
Learn to swing dance (Lindy Hop)
Gentle
Join a choir with no audition