Brett Bodner

@brettbodner

RED BANK – Terese Rolke, 52, Eatontown, was dressed in orange, as she moved side to side, spun around and clapped her hands while she danced on Broad Street on Sunday.

It was Rolke's second time dancing in a flash mob to promote kindness.

"It doesn't matter where people come from, what their backgrounds are, what their beliefs are, the common thread of kindness really brings people together and it's such a powerful experience," said Rolke, Red Bank group leader.

Hundreds of people of all different ages gathered on Broad Street Sunday afternoon to participate in the 2014 Dance for Kindness, a globally recognized flash mob program that occurs around World Kindness Day, Nov. 13 each year.

Broad Street was shut down from White Street to Front Street to allow dancers to dance in the street. Each dancer wore orange clothes because the color promotes feelings of brightness and happiness.

"Everyone was so grateful and was having so much fun," said Christopher Rolke, 20, Eatontown. "That's what it's all about, having fun and being thankful for the positive influences around you."

The event was run by Life Vest Inside (LVI), which is an organization that focuses on spreading kindness and recognizing personal value. The group was founded by Orly Wahba, a middle school teacher who taught her students about kindness.

Sunday's dance took place on Broad Street because Rolke wanted to bring the event back to the spot where the original "Kindness Boomerang" video was filmed in 2010, which went viral and made way for Dance for Kindness.

Last year's event took place in Long Branch with about 60 people and this year there were around 275 people that registered, according to Terese Rolk. Over 80 cities in 32 countries also participated.

"We doubled in size, it's crazy and it's exploding, I can't wait to see what the numbers are next year," Terese Rolke said.

Everyone around the world danced to the same song, LVI graphic designer Charles Preston's "Revolution of Love," and all did the same exact dance to it.

"Kindness Cards" were also passed out which contained individual kindness tasks for the person to complete. Participants could then pass the card on for someone else to perform the tasks, according to Rolke.

"It's amazing when you do the right thing how the world does come together and we are starting a revolution and it's going to get bigger and bigger each year," Terese Rolke said.

Brett Bodner: 732-643-4223; bbodner@gannett.com