It was the very end of May when my friend and colleague Michele posted a rather strange video on her Facebook newsfeed, a YouTube video of a woman demonstrating what she called Prancercise, an exercise routine that mimics a horse's movements. Apparently, Prancercise is a fitness workout that the woman, Joanna Rohrback, created back in the 1980s.
The Prancercise video went viral, with almost 7.5 million views to date. CNN, The Huffington Post, and The Today Show profiled the workout and the woman behind it, and Rohrback even had a starring role, demonstrating Prancercise, in singer John Mayer’s latest video.
Amused and intrigued by the whole thing, I posted the video on a few Facebook groups and said, “Come on, folks. Who wants to Prancercise down The Ave? I think it would be a great fundraising effort. Who's in?”
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To be honest, I was being a bit of wiseass at the time, but part of me also thought it could be a fun event and serve a worthwhile cause in the process. Next thing I knew, people on Facebook were chiming in, calling for a Prance through Collingswood:
“I’m in!”
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“I am SO in for this!!!!”
“Who’s in? I’m in?”
That’s when Connie Correia Fisher, co-owner of Collingswood’s The Pop Shop, stepped up and began organizing a Prance. She contacted Borough officials who enthusiastically supported the plan.
And, so in just a few days, it will be time to, as Rohrback says, “stop talking and do some walking.”
On Wednesday, July 17 at 6:00 p.m., we’re going to have a short prance from the Perkins Center for the Arts on Irvin Avenue to The Pop Shop’s party room on Washington Street. Everyone is welcome to participate, and I mean everyone. So please help spread the word and tell your friends, neighbors, colleagues, enemies, and frenemies about the Prance.
The Pop Shop will award $50 to the “best dressed” prancer. Frugal at 720 Haddon Avenue will give a 15% discount on workout apparel or any items purchased for the Prance. Just mention “Prance” between now and July 17.
There will be a $5 suggested donation that will benefit The Pop Shop’s Party Fund. The Fund hosts birthday parties – including transportation, dinner, and presents – to needy kids from Camden County who might not get the chance to enjoy a birthday celebration.
No pre-registration is needed. Just be ready to prance at 6:00 p.m. Volunteers will be milling around with donation buckets.
So, who's in? Who's ready to have some fun and prance for charity?
