'Nobody fell down and we had a good time': Hilarious video of senior citizens from retirement home who launched flash mob at shopping mall

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 15:46 EST, 15 April 2012 | Updated: 19:07 EST, 15 April 2012

A group of senior citizens descended on a Virginia shopping mall and surprised shoppers with an impromptu synchronised dance.

The 25 pensioners had been rehearsing for months for the flash mob, which attracted a large crowd at Dulles Town Center on Friday.

The group, made up of residents from retirement community Ashby Ponds in Ashburn, Virginia, ranged in age from 66 to 80.

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Choreographed: In the footage, the pensioners can be seen clapping and strutting in unison, while onlookers watch

Choreographed: In the footage, the pensioners can be seen clapping and strutting in unison, while onlookers watch

Carl Hemmer, who was the oldest performer, did not even know what a flash mob was until he began rehearsing once a week for the choreographed dance to Outasight's 'Tonight is the Night'.

Jessica McKay, the public affairs manager of the retirement community, said that none of Friday’s participants had been involved in a flash mob before.

'I definitely had to show them some examples on YouTube,' she told WTOP. 

Phyllis Lynne, 71, who took part, said she was pleased the performance went ahead without glitches. 'We were all surprised that we all got there and nobody fell down and we had a good time,' she told WAMU.

Online hit: The video, which was posted on to YouTube, has already attracted more than 40,000 hits

Online hit: The video, which was posted on to YouTube, has already attracted more than 40,000 hits

Dedicated: The 25 pensioners had been rehearsing for months for the flash mob, which attracted a large crowd at Dulles Town Center on Friday

Dedicated: The 25 pensioners had been rehearsing for months for the flash mob, which attracted a large crowd at Dulles Town Center on Friday

Flash mob: More than two dozen senior citizens turned out at Dulles Town Center mall to surprise shoppers with an impromptu performance

Flash mob: More than two dozen senior citizens turned out at Dulles Town Center mall to surprise shoppers with an impromptu performance

In video footage of the performance, the pensioners can be seen clapping and strutting in unison, while onlookers watch.

The video, which was posted on to YouTube, has already attracted more than 40,000 hits and dozens of comments.

Internet users reacted with delight at the amusing footage. One person, posting under the name 2222golfer, said: 'Great to see the old folks showing their moves.'

Another named thecatatemyhomework added: 'Good for them. They did a great job and had fun doing it. Put a smile on my face.'

Dan Dunne, director of communications for Erickson Living, which operates Ashby Ponds, said the participants were dedicated to their performance. 'They've been faithfully rehearsing for a couple of months now,' he told WTOP.

'Dozens and dozens of their neighbors came out to watch. It's a really neat community, they find life so enjoyable there.'

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