Flash mob is peak of Joan’s 80th

By Tessa Roy
Posted 9/6/16

Some families have enough love to move mountains – one of those is Warwick’s Miga family.

“We are a party family; we like to go big or go home,” said Dianne Stein. “We like to have fun. …

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Flash mob is peak of Joan’s 80th

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Some families have enough love to move mountains – one of those is Warwick’s Miga family.

“We are a party family; we like to go big or go home,” said Dianne Stein. “We like to have fun. We are not people to sit in a room for hours and just look at each other. We want to make the most of our time together.”

For months, Stein had been planning a flash mob for her mother Joan Miga’s 80th birthday. Miga, a lifetime caretaker with four children and 30 years of experience as a nurse at Kent Hospital’s outpatient unit under her belt, lives in Florida. Stein’s dance extravaganza was supposed to happen in May during her mother’s visit.

“She is a very young 80 and loves to have fun. She climbed Mount Washington on her 75th birthday with the family, per her request,” said Stein. “So how do you top that?”

However, the event had to be pushed back. Miga’s boyfriend Cecil Collins became ill, so she remained in Florida to care for him until he became stable.

Miga was able to return home to Rhode Island last week, and Stein finally got to carry out her flash mob at Goddard Memorial State Park on Sunday. Fifteen dancers from Carolyn Dutra Dance Studio, Dance Attitudes, Legein Dance Academy of Performing Arts and Warwick Dance and Gymnastics were on hand to perform, and about 50 friends and family members stopped by to watch and boogie along.

“I’m excited that Dianne is finally getting to do this for her mom,” says Dawn Marcoux, a dance veteran of 25 years who choreographed the mob’s routine. “We’ve been working and waiting for this for a long time.”

Cam Malone-Allen, a friend and former co-worker of Miga’s, was ready to see her reaction. Miga climbed Mount Washington, ziplined in Costa Rica, and had family members surprise her with performances on previous birthdays, and Malone-Allen wondered how the flash mob would stack up for a woman who had seen it all.

“This is a great family, and Joan is such a compassionate, caring person,” she said.

Miga arrived at the location on horseback as her family had arranged. She stopped to watch the flash mob, realizing a few minutes in that it was for her. She laughed, tapped her feet, and even jumped in to dance along to the likes of KC & the Sunshine Band’s “Boogie Shoes” and Pharrell’s “Happy.”

After the routine ended, everyone lined up to give Miga flowers. She hugged and spoke with each person in the line. I, too, received a hug from Miga when I went to talk to her.

“I thought you were just another one of my friends…Well, now you are!” she said with a laugh when I explained I was there as a reporter.

The mob, after the months of dogged efforts, had been successful.

“I am shocked and astounded. I haven’t seen some of the people here in years,” Miga said. “This is bigger than any summit. It’s hard to put this into words, but I think love says it.”

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