“Dancing Queens: A Case Study,” a video the town of Cary commissioned at a cost of $34,975, tells the story of a handful of town staffers who spent months planning a surprise dance performance for their colleagues and bosses.

It plays a bit like a workplace mockumentary, where the actors deliver their lines in earnest and only the audience can see the humor in what’s unfolding.

Scene 1: The camera pans across an industrial-chic event space filled with cheerful-looking professionals in business casual attire. It’s the first night of a two-day staff retreat in Wilmington. Michael Jackson’s “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough” plays softly in the background as they mingle and chitchat. Their champagne flutes are embossed with the town of Cary logo. 

Cut to a microphone stationed at the front of the room. “We have one more special touch for tonight,” announces Chief Strategy Officer Susan Moran. Standing beside her is then-Town Manager Sean Stegall. Moran starts to tell a story about how, years ago, Stegall had the idea to end the annual retreat with a performance by staff.

Cut to Stegall, nodding and grinning bemusedly.

“Those of you who have been on the council,” Moran says, “know that we’ve never done that. Until tonight.”

The lights dim. The opening glissando of ABBA’s disco anthem “Dancing Queen” plays. The crowd erupts into applause. Fade to black. 

Scene 2: We’ve moved locations to a sun-washed room. It’s nine months later, per a banner at the bottom of the screen. Four women in blazers and slacks are sitting in director’s chairs. On the tables between them are four town of Cary mugs, logos angled carefully toward the camera.

Moran asks her collaborators: “How does the Dancing Queens experience exemplify our culture and what we are trying to do at all levels in the organization?” 

“I think … taking a risk, number one,” says Planning Director Heather Welehan. “Putting yourself out there, being vulnerable.” 

Moran rests her chin on her hand and nods thoughtfully. Cut to a close-up on Welehan, who continues: “It started as ‘This is a present for Sean, and council, and it’s for the retreat’ … and it became a commitment to our colleagues and the relationships we’re forming along the way.”

Made in 2024, “Dancing Queens” includes studio interviews with a dozen town staffers, b-roll from rehearsals, and several clips from Mamma Mia! the movie to break up its six “chapters.” The film builds and builds to the final performance, a four-minute, professionally choreographed dance break by staff members decked out in go-go boots and shiny disco pants. (The town did not pay for the choreographer or the costumes, Moran told the INDY.)