---
title: "What It Takes: The Flash Mob"
date: 2023-01-27T05:30:00-05:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/what-it-takes-the-flash-mob"
section: Articles
---
# What It Takes: The Flash Mob

*January 27, 2023* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih)


> How Maryland Athletics Made a Two-Minute In-Game Student Dance a Decade-long Viral Tradition

*Hero OSU02272022 MD2 9575 1920x1080 — Students pump up the crowd during the 2022 flash mob at the Terp men's basketball game against Ohio State. The annual tradition, choreographed by Megan Piluk '13 and Jen Miller, began in 2013.*

You can’t predict when it’s coming. But when Testudo steps onto the court in a crazy costume, the music starts pumping and the Xfinity Center’s student section suddenly moves in unison, Terp fans know: It’s time for the annual flash mob.

In the space of one thrilling time-out of a men’s basketball game, students pull off stunning visuals, like a ripple reveal of gold T-shirts under jackets across the arena, and send energy pulsing through the crowd as they dance, clap and throw their hands in the air.

The [first iteration a decade ago](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1qoZxWAsk8) went viral, garnering more than 10 million views on YouTube and receiving national television coverage. Since then, the Maryland Athletics marketing team and a dedicated duo of choreographers have worked every year to make each new version more exciting and memorable than the last.

Former University of Maryland Dance Team member Megan Piluk ’13 has choreographed the flash mob since its inception, and she brought on Jen Miller, her partner in Out of the Blue Dance Productions (which kicked off with the first flash mob and now focuses on viral marketing), starting the second year. Jordan Looby, senior assistant athletic director for marketing strategy and fan experience, has overseen overall production since 2017.

In an interview with *Maryland Today*, the three discussed what it was like to pull off that initial surprise, how they create choreography for thousands of students who have little time to prepare and the perils of using the trendiest music—and hint at what this year’s flash mob could entail.


*choreographer teaches students flash mob moves at Xfinity Center — Megan Piluk '13 teaches students the flash mob dance in 2020.*


*Megan Piluk '13 and Jen Miller on the court — Out of the Blue Productions' Jen Miller, left, and Megan Piluk '13 choreograph the flash mob every year.*



**Sidebar note:**

Check out every iteration of the flash mob in this [Maryland Athletics playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLECO5H_bpvRXqO8jGDLL320sAj6LIebSz).





**Topics:** [Athletics](https://today.umd.edu/tags/athletics)


**Tags:** [Men's Basketball](https://today.umd.edu/topic/mens-basketball), [What It Takes](https://today.umd.edu/topic/what-it-takes), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [Department of Intercollegiate Athletics](https://today.umd.edu/topic/department-intercollegiate-athletics)