Houston’s Hottest Young Professionals Break Into a Rocking Flash Mob

Probably the last thing that anyone expected at the Houston Grand Opera Ball was a flash mob. But that’s exactly what after-party chairs Carrie and Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl orchestrated for the late-night bash that got cranking once the traditional white-tie dinner and dancing had waned.

The duo had promised a few surprises for the Encore Party, targeted to young professionals. And they delivered. Playing on the ball’s “Carnevale di Venezia” theme, they tasked CityKitchen to create a “cicchetti” (Italian street food)  buffet. The colorful menu included Harry’s Bar Sandwiches, platters of roasted peppers and anchovies, marinated calamari, roasted eggplant, wheels of parmigiano reggiano and more — hefty bites for the ensuing revelry. A gelato stand added a sweet touch of authenticity to the menu.

DJ Whitney Fierce struck up the disco tunes before the appointed hour so that the dancing queens and kings would be ready for a special surprise. At the stroke of 12:15 a.m., “Mueve La Colita” came over the sound system and the flash mob broke out.

“I invited around 60 people to be part of the flash mob. I choreographed the dance and sent them all the steps,” Carrie said. “My inspiration was the film La Grande Bellezza and I was trying to recreate the party scene in the film, bringing in energy like we’re all playing a part in a decadent, outlandish, Italian art drama. I love that film! ”

Once the song finished, waiters passed through the throng handing out frozen Bellinis. Even the “gondolier” from J&D Entertainment could have used a champagne treat after all that dancing.

After-party fans:  Valerie and Tracy Dieterich, Beth and Alastair Lewis, Brian McCulloch and Jeremy Garcia, Srigouri and Rajesh Yalamanchili, Rachel Ellsworth, Chris Knapp, Melissa Moreno, Joshua Allison, Lady Kimbrell, Ishwaria and Vivek Subbiah, Amy and Ben Stephens, and Farrell Lawo and Erik Corace.