Wooster had its first “flash mob” experience July 1 when a group of more than 50 dancers suddenly took to the streets to dance to a Gloria Estefan tune, Conga, during Artfully Delicious.

As they have in cities across the nation, Wooster’s flash mob appeared out of nowhere to perform a dance and disappeared back into the crowd as quickly as they came, to the surprise and delight of those gathered on the square to sample the best of Wooster’s culinary and fine arts.

According to Robb Hyde, Wayne Center for the Arts executive director, while the idea for doing a flash mob during an event in Wooster has been discussed for over a year, “it really took the energy of someone like Ellen Pill to organize it and do it. She made it happen.”

“I’ve been wanting to do this in Wooster forever,” said Pill.

A few weeks ago Pill sent out an email to a group of fellow dancers and friends inviting them to participate.

The response she got was overwhelming.

“People were just so excited about it,” said Pill.

She told the participants to feel free to invite others to take part in the event “only if you know somebody that you really think will participate, otherwise you have to keep it an absolute secret” so as not to spoil the surprise.

All 50-plus participants, ranging in age from the very young to older folks, were true to their word when the crowd of nearly 1,500 gathered on the square for Artfully Delicious were taken completely by surprise when the group began to perform.

For Hyde, the flash mob was the perfect addition to the annual downtown celebration of the arts.

“The arts are about fun,” said Hyde. “You just can’t beat the energy you get from people moving and singing to the music.”