Today we’d like to introduce you to Niki Calabrese.
Hi Niki, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
.As an aspiring teacher ever since I was a tiny girl, I spent much of my young adult life attending school so that I could teach at a school but quickly found out that my values did not
align with the public school system in NY where I was living. After getting laid off in 2012, I
still wanted to use my skill set in a valuable way, so I pivoted to work as an education
manager–then nanny, personal tutor, and entrepreneur–until my husband and I moved to TX
in 2015. At that time, I took on the role of full-time volunteer for many different
organizations in North Texas. I found great joy & accomplishment working with free health
clinics, the police department, and our church on a regular basis, but I eventually found
myself in a funk feeling like I had not accomplished the things I had always planned to as a
little girl and I was longing for more. Enter Dallas Flashers.
I had always wanted to be in a flash mob ever since they became a viral trend in the early
2000s, but there never were any that I knew of, so I decided to make it happen! We started
the group in October of 2023 and held a “test run” in November of 2023. We organized 2
freeze mobs at Frisco’s Stonebriar Centre and since they were so successful, we decided to
keep going. We planned 2 holiday mobs at the mall again in December–one dancing and one
singing–but assumed that would be the end. Once we finished those and saw how excited
everyone was to participate, we kept going at everyone’s insistence, and since then we have
done 21 mobs!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
.It’s been incredibly smooth! It turns out that when people are interested in being in a flash mob, they are pretty amazing people who bring loads of positivity, helpfulness, and
enthusiasm to the group. This group has no drama! We have so many diverse members that
we can’t help but have a blast every time we are together, and it was inevitable that many of
us would become very close friends as time went on. Our members bring their friends &
family to join along in the fun, and there is never a dull moment!
As an organization, it has been green lights the whole way. We have of course had our fair
share of a learning curve–figuring out how to work and lead in the non-profit world requires
some adjustment and learning, but making organic connections has been so helpful as we
grow and become known in the community. We are so thankful to everyone who has given
us a helpful nudge or unloaded wisdom on us, as every little bit has helped us keep our train
on the tracks.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
.Dallas Flashers is our name–flash mobbin’ is our game. We make a habit out of spreading joy to the community with our pop-up routines at popular events. Our no-cost, family-friendly,
all-ages, -abilities, & -levels group has become an uplifting & addictive hobby to the majority
of our members and we all find immense pride in being part of such a positive & inclusive
group that exists solely to bring smiles to the faces around us. Our group is made up of and
run entirely by volunteers, so everyone is here for only one thing–fun & enjoyment!
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
.Come mob with us! Our group continues to grow beyond 800 members and each new one brings a new flavor to the mix. We have room for many more! We love collaborating with
local businesses and organizations such as when we mobbed Arts in Bloom together with the
McKinney Repertory Theatre in Spring 2025. We also collaborate with many North Texas
cities to bring a surprise element of fun to their city events.
Besides performers, we also need non-performer assistance in operations areas like admin,
day-of helpers (logistics), camera/photo/video, social media, and with board/committee
positions–there are many openings are available for people who want to be part of the fun
but who are not interested in performing live!
We would love the public’s support by sharing our group information with anyone whom
they think would be interested in participating in our performances or assisting us with
operational needs. No prior experience is needed and we make everything easy and
accessible!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/dallasflashers
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dallas.flashers/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DallasFlashersFans
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dallas-flashers-2a0a41382/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DallasFlashers
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dallasflashersofficial
Image Credits
Dallas Flashers
