Freedom Flashmob at Boardwalk - Santa Cruz, CA - March 20, 2022 - Song by JON BATISTE

Coming out of much heaviness and separation, on March 20, 2022, togetherness, joy and lots of energy erupted into the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk echoing the contagious jubilation of Jon Batiste’s song "Freedom".

When Jon Batiste released his song, he put a call out for people to send him videos of them singing or dancing to it. Here we answered his call.

Song: "Freedom" by Jon Batiste
From the album "We Are", released 2021

Flashmob and Video Produced by Lucinda Chrisman & Monica Vantoch

Video Edited by Lucinda Chrisman

Flashmob Choreography by Gina Garcia (Worldanz), Lucinda Chrisman, Monica Vantoch

#freedomflashmob

💗💃🏽😍🕺🏻🤩💗💥

What did this mean for some of the participants?

“So much joy to be together with dance & music, and sharing it with the community!” ~Pearly

”For me this was about community, inclusiveness, courage, coordination, generosity, timeliness and fun! ~Mohini

”Spreading joy to onlookers is such a great feeling!” ~Teri

”It was both healing and liberating. I felt a deep sense of belonging.” ~Geneffa

”For me this was an act of self-love.” ~Roxanne

”I felt like we were doing what we could to bring more good positive hopeful energy into the world” ~Veda

”Freedom is something we should cherish, and it should never feel like a bad word!” ~Barbara

”For me it was about joy and freedom in every fiber of my body rippling out to our community and every individual everywhere!” ~ Susie

“I am just so proud humbled and honored to have been a part of it!” ~Crissy

“I got to cross something off my bucket list!!” ~Michelle

“It was so fun to be a participant and be part of something joyful, uplifting!” ~Sylvie

“A somatic rally cry for FREEDOM, for all beings everywhere!!!” ~Veda

“For me, it was a dream come true. It felt so heart-warming to share our kinetic energy and joy. My children had the chance to see their mom be part of an amazing, happy community happening. It was absolutely exhilarating!” ~Margo

“Truly uplifting to be included in such an inspiring group and feel like a real dancer, even though I’m stiff and awkward! Spreading joy to onlookers is such a great feeling!” ~Teri

“It was like getting a joy injection!” ~Mary

“At times, last year especially, life has been brutal, it seemed every day brought things I never thought would happen, along with some extreme divisiveness in our county and country. Freedom is something we all should cherish. It should never feel like a bad word. This flashmob felt as though it brought that back!” ~Barbara

“A positive-vibed group of people… very meaningful after two years of pandemic. I felt a lot of inspiration, excitement, encouragement and connection.” ~Carolyn

“What a wonderful thing to have gotten to connect, move, learn, and laugh with all of you at this particular time... Plus Jon Batiste is such a great artist!” ~Lauren

“I got to do the flash mob with my teenage daughter!! After Covid, there were such awkward feelings for kids. It meant the world to me that my daughter was able to be a part of something so fun, freeing, and part of a greater community. She got to be a part of something to bring joy to others. She got to experience doing something without caring if it was perfect or how others thought about her performance, it was just fun and it wasn't about any individual, it was about us together, bringing joy!! Invaluable lessons learned!” ~Michelle

"This was the first time I felt like my old (young) self again after two years of hibernation! Dancing, laughing with my girlfriends, and not scared to be in a big huge crowd of people!" ~Kristen

“My 3 good friends and I, all in our 70’s, knowing we got to do this and that we all could still do this!” ~Nancy

“That was the BEST food ever for my Soul. My heart is singing!” ~Clara
“Unearthed My Soul ❤️❤️❤️” ~Angelina

[bbrosser]

Mr. Batiste, I've just decided that I now know what you are doing-- You, Sir are spreading love all over planet earth. So, thank you very much!

[genevievechoghari]

💜🎭 I love me some Jon..he is a creature of beauty, peace and spreading love and happiness…..SING IT JON🎭🎷🎭

[DEIDREROG]

Love my Santa Cruz dancers! I think it’s an unwritten rule you have to be able to dance if you live here.💃💜

[geneffaj]

What an honor to have been part of this! I am ever reminded that we humans are meant to dance, shake our limbs, and be free! Thank you for this reminder that sings in every cell of my body, and thanks to this video, will be remembered in heart, mind, and soul forever!

[geneffaj]

Want to add a huge thank you to Lucinda for capturing my words up there as well! I've shaken free of my shackles in more ways than one! Communities that groove together, move together. . . and this is how movements are made!

[nightbloomer]

JB is a once in a lifetime talent! He sure does spread The Sound of Music over our painfully hurting planet. This gift of his, from his haunting falsetto to his moves like no other, is coming at us during a time of unrest and deep depression. May he continue to remind us that life is a precious gift from God.

[montymartell]

I'm sitting here going why am I crying and I suddenly dawned on me it's happiness I haven't seen happiness in so long I'm crying

[chanchan]

I love the lady in the purple top with a cane-grooving & dancing with so much joy!

[cherimerrifield]

Let’s go women of this country. FREEDOM

[stevenseltzer]

THANK YOU We all need you especially now. Your music and lyrics feel our souls. THANK YOU❤ (sally in williamsburg, va)

[bellanteomero]

Brava, ladies! Dancin' in my chair with y'all. ❤

[mariemulkey]

That was a thing of beauty to watch and I feel so honored to have seen it. Ladies I highly recommend that you do some more of this because people sure can use it now more than ever!

[monical]

I love this quote: "After Covid, there were such awkward feelings for kids. It meant the world to me that my daughter was able to be a part of something so fun, freeing, and part of a greater community." Yay!!!!

[pawsmercy]

We needed a fresh fun feel good song to make our feet start moving and shake off the last 2 years I can't get this song out of my head He nailed it with this one NICE JOB JON BATISTE 💜💋

[delham]

Now this is what AMERICA should be; everyone just getting along❤️🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾❤️🙏🏾❤️

[tootz]

That old lady in blue with the cane!! I absolutely adored this. More, more, more.

[lilycai]

That was amazing! Put a smile on my face. Love the positive energy of everybody. You guys brought joy to a lot of people.

[josephinelarosa]

Keep spreading the love and joy ❤! Thanks Ladies and love to Jon Batiste. This is what our country needs ❤🎉❤

[barbaracollins]

What a beautiful world this would be if we all did this every day. Spreading nothing but love

[raffaojeda]

I lived in Santa cruz for almost 7 yeras, It was a full experience of a new culture for me coming from Mexico city. I wish I could go back there again someday just for the fun of It.