For the fifth year, get ready to celebrate our differences by witnessing a Bhangra/Western inspired flash mob dance performance. The purpose of this community initiative is to raise awareness for the Anti-Bullying message through dance. Understanding the importance of standing up against bullying no matter what form it takes whether physical, verbal, cyber, or social bullying; Delta, community member Sean Bindra began the initiative in 2014 to create awareness in order to help put an end to bullying.

An event by the community for the community, the “Anti-Bullying Flash Mob” is a non-profit community initiative that is organized each year by Sean Bindra on a volunteer basis. This Anti-Bullying community initiative has grown in the past few years and the response has been overwhelming. “This is the 5th time I am organizing the Anti-Bullying Flash Mob event, with the support of various community members. Through our team-effort, more than 5,000 Youth from Surrey and Delta have now participated and danced in this community initiative in support of the Anti-Bullying message. The Youth are our future so it is important to organize Anti-Bullying initiatives like this.”, says Bindra.

On March 13, more than 1,300 students from six schools in Surrey, (Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Beaver Creek Elementary, Boundary Park Elementary, Cougar Creek Elementary, J.T. Brown Elementary, and Martha Jane Norris Elementary) will participate in a Flash Mob style dance performance. This will be taking place outside on the lower field at Tamanawis Secondary (12600 66 Ave, Surrey, BC V3W 2A8) from 1:00pm onwards. In addition, the 1,300+ students will be joined by Police Officers from the Surrey RCMP who will also be participating in the dance performance.

The dance choreography for this year’s Anti-Bullying Flash Mob event is being provided by skilled instructors from the South Asian Arts Society. “Bullying has no place in our world, so we’re all for supporting any initiative that brings the community together to stand in solidarity against bullying. Kudos to Sean for launching this initiative in 2014. SAA Society will continue to support the Anti-Bullying Flash Mob event in future years.”, says Gurpreet Sian who is the Executive Director of the South Asian Arts Society.

Sean feels “We need to celebrate our differences and support one another. Our differences are what make us strong, and therefore we need to encourage each other to be ourselves. All of us have faced some sort of bullying in our lives and it leaves you feeling low on the inside. We are all unique and beautiful, and this is what we need to embrace. I encourage the community to please attend and support this Anti-Bullying initiative in large numbers. Let’s show our Youth that we fully support their commitment and dedication to help put an end to bullying.”

Now in its fifth year, the Anti-Bullying Flash Mob event is for the most part, a self-funded community initiative. Not only does Sean volunteer his time and service and helps fund this non-profit community initiative, but with the support of his parents he even prepares dance props for each participating student to hold in the dance performance. As the Anti-Bullying Flash Mob event grows and gains momentum, Sean is hopeful that more community members and organizations will begin supporting this non-profit community initiative. “The on-going growth, success, and longevity of the annual “Anti-Bullying Flash Mob” event is highly dependent on the support it receives from community members and organizations”, says Bindra.

Sean’s closing words will leave you with a thought to ponder upon, “As a community, we are stronger together than we are apart.”