Swedish Gym Flashmob; Eiffel Tower as Backdrop

Why yes. That is a large group of people doing Swedish Gym exercises to the Eurythmics in front of the Eiffel Tower.

And yes. I was a part.

Saturday March 17 was not only St. Patrick’s Day. It also saw a flashmob at Trocadero sponsored by the enthusiastic gym suedoise association.

I am fond of flashmobs. A gathering organized simply to do something silly? Pourquoi poi? Random, fun, free – it fits my criteria.

(My favorite flashmobs from New York: a public pillow fight downtown and a Macy’s takeover where a crowd of us all streamed into the carpet department and surrounded and discussed the merits of a particular “love rug” for our pretend commune. Witnesses were, of course, baffled).

I was surprised to learn of the flashmob here. Random and silly aren’t the first words I’d ascribe to Parisians, but I was happy to widen my perspective.

The flashmob actually wasn’t completely random, though. It was organized in partnership with the La Ligue Contre le Cancer and L’ALIAM. So good causes related to health. Like a good flashmob, however, it still appeared random.

A video of the choreography we would be performing – to MC Hammer’s “Can’t Touch This,” no less – had been put online so we arrived ready for some Hammer Time. We were given bright orange T-shirts. As it was freezing, I put the T-shirt over my puffy coat, as did many people. Tres, tres stylish, let me tell you.

And then we went for it.

After a few rounds, I stepped back to film, because I like to watch randomness as much as participate in it. The group had now moved onto general Swedish Gym exercises (of which I am now a pro, despite my awkward beginnings). A French woman asked me, but what are you all doing?

Oh, Madame, welcome to a flashmob. I tried to explain the connection to the good causes, but I was kind of at a loss. I was just there to dance to MC Hammer with the Eiffel Tower as backdrop.

Mission accomplished.