Performing Arts students from Salford City College’s Pendleton Sixth Form Centre have helped a father-of-two pull off a romantic proposal in the middle of one of the country’s busiest shopping centres.
With the help of a crowd-drawing flashmob performed by the students at Manchester Arndale, Idris Fabiyi popped the question to his girlfriend of nine years, Yvette Beardall, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
The dad-of-two spent four months planning the stunt, and arranged for a flashmob of students from Salford City College to perform a nine-minute dance in front of dozens of shoppers, including unsuspecting girlfriend Yvette.
Idris had the idea to use a flashmob when he saw the talented students performing at MediaCityUK in September, and asked if they would help him out.
The flashmob began with an upbeat dance to songs such as Take That’s ‘Never Forget’, before the student choir launched into a rendition of Idris and Yvette’s favourite song, ‘Heaven’ by Bryan Adams.
Idris explained: “The flashmob started their dance and Yvette didn’t know that it was all about her. Then they started singing our song, Bryan Adams’ ‘Heaven’, and they pointed at the balcony where I was standing and I made my way down the stairs.”
Yvette spotted Idris on the balcony of the shopping centre’s busy forecourt, and was overcome with emotion as he made his way down the stairs and got down on one knee.
The happy couple are planning to marry at some point in the next two years. Idris added: “The students at Salford City College have been fantastic- they’ve been instrumental in making this an amazing day.”
The flashmob was performed by over a hundred students from Salford City College’s Performing Arts department, and choreographed by Kelly Cullen, the students’ tutor.
