Toronto's Michael Jackson fans won't stop 'til they get enough dancing, as they plan a flash mob performance of "Beat It" to celebrate what would have been the late singer's 51st birthday on Saturday.
"We all love Michael Jackson and especially I love the message he sent to everyone, that everyone should be with love," says Gwyneth Fung, 27, one of the organizers of the event.
Torontonians are invited to gather at several city landmarks beginning at 2 p.m. where they'll practice and then begin their performance. Even those who haven't mastered the Moonwalk are welcome.
"We have a bunch of people who have already learned the "Beat It" dance, so when we do the rehearsal, we're going to have all these people (demonstrate) in the front," explains organizer Ayesha Adhami, 42.
The mob will start with a "Beat It" rehearsal at 2 p.m. at Nathan Phillips Square, and then move to Yonge-Dundas Square, the Eaton Centre, and end off on the street outside MuchMusic/CP24 headquarters at 299 Queen St. W. at about 5 p.m.
People will dance for only about a minute and a half and then they'll quickly beat it -- to move to the next location.
"We're saying to people that even if you don't know how to do the dance... come and cheer and sing. It's celebrating the life of an entertainer that has touched so many people around the world," says Adhami.
Fans are being encouraged to dress up.
"If there's a little bling happening it'd be good," explained Adhami.
The two are promoting the fact that there will be a large cross-section of cultures at the event.
"With music and dancing, you don't need any language to show the message," says Fung.
"The people you're going to see (at the event) are diverse, come from different backgrounds, ages, nationalities and everything," she says.
If everybody who signed up actually shows up, she and the other organizers expect about 300 people to attend.
Fung got the idea after her dancer and choreographer friends in Taiwan organized the event in Taipei.
She and Adhami decided the Toronto group should also dance to "Beat It" based on that and on the success of other Jackson-themed flash mobs featuring the tune in Stockholm, and Paris.
"They put out a call to cities around the world saying other cities should do it. It was only natural that we'd say it is Toronto's turn to do something," says Adhami.
If you want to dance your best at the Jackson flash mob, make sure you study up.
Other flash mobs in Toronto have included a subway dance party, real-life Where's Waldo and free hugs on the street.
