Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Dancing man is local celebrity

MEET Robin the Dancing Man - Kew Junction's biggest local celebrity.


Robin Madden, 62, can often be found on one of the junction's corners putting his finest self-taught dance moves on display for everyone to see.

The lovable local has captured the hearts of children and adults alike with his lively dance moves, including the boogie, the twist, the kick and his signature step, the sprinkler -- where Robin has one arm on his head and one arm outstretched as he spins around in circles.

Robin, who regularly struts his stuff at the busy intersection, told the Herald Sun he has been dancing in the area for "donkey's years".

"I like dancing and everyone likes me dancing. I'm famous here," he said. "It makes me happy.

"People blow their horns at me and the coppers put their sirens on for me. They know me pretty well around here -- I've been in Kew all my life."

Getting into rhythm by listening to his favourites, Suzi Quatro and the Rolling Stones, Robin believes he was a born dancer.

"I taught myself to dance. I learnt to dance to rock 'n' roll music," he said.

Robin the rocker said his performances weren't just limited to Kew.

He could also be found grooving in Northcote and Balwyn.

The suburban twinkle-toes has proved such a hit that passers-by have posted videos of him on YouTube.

A Facebook club has been created by fans in his honour, called I LUV Kew's Dancing Man, with more than 900 members.

Suzi Nedanovska, 28, who works at Q Hair Room at the junction, chats to Robin whenever he's out and about.

She said he used to be well-known for riding a bike with colourful flags, but it was stolen. So he started dancing.

"He's very popular around here. The drivers all beep and have phones dangling outside their windows," she said.

"Everyone loves him. He always puts a smile on my face and brightens up my day."

Zaz De Sousa, the floor manager at Mercedes-Benz Kew, sees Robin every Saturday.

She said her customers loved watching him.

"He's gorgeous and part of our little community at Kew. When he's not here, we miss him," she said.

"He always does the same thing, turning around and spinning -- no one can get the rhythm as perfect as he does. He's amazing."

Local Alzia Hickey, 50, said Robin was the feature of the junction.

"Sometimes he dances for three hours at a time. It makes him happy and everyone else happy.

"When people don't see him, they look for him," she said.

Laura Piccolotto, director of Jetset Kew, said he was a hot favourite.

"If you say 'The Dancing Man', everybody knows him. He is just gorgeous, happy as Larry. He usually sings, too," she said.

Owner of Coffee Moments, Theodoros Andreou, 56, who gives Robin free coffee, said the cheery man livened up an otherwise quiet area.

"Everyone loves him.

"When the children finish school, they all wave at him."

Robin is so popular that more than 7200 viewers have clicked on the YouTube videos featuring his exclusive dance moves.


Jordana Borensztajn . Herald Sun . August 16, 2007. 12:00AM

Friday, April 1, 2011

DancingMan - Happiness is bliss

Happiness is Bliss

Do you ever meet people throughout your journeys that are, simply put, happy?

I’m not talking about the happiness one derives from their latest Mercedes-Benz, their newest gadget, or slipping a $20 into a ladies knickers at the Cricketers Arms. I don’t know, maybe I’m out of touch with what makes people happy these days….

Sometimes you meet someone who is truly happy, in every meaning of the word, that doesn’t rely on, as cliché as it sounds, material items. Sometimes happiness is enough. It takes on a life of its own, becoming a compounding asset. Happiness creates happiness.

One such man that Terrence met on his recent travels is Robin, the Dancing Man of Kew.

Robin could literally be the happiest man alive. You are greeted with a smile from ear to ear, a friendly chat, and an infectious case of happiness. Suddenly I am happier than I have been in a long time.

Robin has not always been this happy. 11 years ago he was bedridden at St Georges Hospital in Kew, Victoria, for 6 months with cancer in his leg. After extensive treatment and rehabilitation he was discharged in early 2000. As happy as Robin is today, he believes this was the happiest day of his life. He caught the 109 tram back to his community residence in Kew, slapped on his runners, strapped on his walkman, strutted down to the Kew junction outside the then Clifton Hotel, and started dancing.

Robin has been dancing every day since….mostly at that same spot, sometimes at the corner of Balwyn and Whitehorse Roads in Balwyn, and sometimes on High Street in Northcote where he has lived in the past. You will find Robin dancing somewhere on any given day, although he usually knocks off around 4 o’clock.

In proving that happiness is infectious, the community support shown to Robin is comforting in this day and age. Bob Stewart of Kew gives Robin a new pair of runners everytime he wears his out with the Melbourne Shuffle. Theodoros from Coffee Moments shouts him Flat White’s on the house to fuel his mule. The Kew Hotel spots him sodas and colas on the tick to give him some gas for his ass. And now Terrence Towel gives him duds so he can dance harder, better, faster, stronger, and in more comfort and style than ever before.

Next time you drive past Robin on one of his dance floors, please toot the horn and wave, please shout out the window and say G’Day. And please try to be as happy as him, for your own sake.


Note: Robin’s earphones have recently broken. He has bought a new pair but can’t afford more than $10 so his earphones are not great quality. If any readers have a nice pair of earphones that they are willing to part with please contact Terrence@terrence.com.au and we will arrange.
If someone deserves to listen to good quality sound, it’s Robin.
Any Rock’n’Roll Cassette’s would be greatly appreciated also.