Flash mob surprise for Joost

23/06/2013. Iconic performer PJ Powers alongside 60 professional dancers surprise former Springboks player Joost van der Westhuizen as he has breakfast at Lynnwood Bridge Mall in Pretoria East. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

23/06/2013. Iconic performer PJ Powers alongside 60 professional dancers surprise former Springboks player Joost van der Westhuizen as he has breakfast at Lynnwood Bridge Mall in Pretoria East. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Jun 24, 2013

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Pretoria - A flash mob performed at a shopping mall in Pretoria on Saturday to raise awareness and support for motor neuron disease (MND).

Organised by the J9 Foundation, the event featured message-dragging airplanes flying over the mall, dancers and a performance by singer PJ Powers.

Springbok rugby legend and J9 founder Joost van der Westhuizen, who was there for breakfast, was surprised as the energetic flash mob started performing, drawing a crowd from all over the mall.

Van der Westhuizen had just sat down with his family and other members of the foundation, supposedly to receive a donation from the mall itself, when a group of singers appeared and started performing Shosholoza.

As the song ended, Powers stepped in to sing one of Van der Westhuizen’s favourite songs, World in Union – the song that was the anthem of the 1995 Rugby World Cup, in which he was part of the team that lifted the trophy.

As Powers finished her song, with the crowd dazzled by her performance, a team of dancers started appearing from all over the mall to entertain, with wonderfully choreographed moves.

Dancers and children from Hoërskool Garsfontein, Laerskool Hennopspark and Hoër Volkskool Potchefstroom made their way to the mall to join the mob in dancing and waving flags in support of MND awareness and the foundation.

The Springbok mascot, Bokkie, also made an appearance and ran around revving up the crowd, then moved on to dance and wave flags with the other flash mobsters.

The crowd cheered and roared throughout the performances.

Hoërskool Garsfontein’s dance academy coach Michelle Leibrandt was thrilled that they were part of the event.

“There is no better way to spend a Saturday morning. My girls were so excited and happy to do this.

“We are honoured to be a part of an event that will cause awareness,” she said.

Leibrandt said Van der Westhuizen was a legend and would always be “our number 9”.

Van der Westhuizen, who was sitting with his wife Amor, daughter Kylie, 7, and son Jordan, 9, was initially surprised by the display, but it later turned into delight as he enjoyed the performances.

He was overjoyed at the turnout of people supporting MND by campaigning with the flash mob. “What a surprise, and what an honour to be able to use the J9 Foundation as a basis for creating global awareness for MND,” he said.

Pretoria News

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