A BALWYN sculptor who wants to immortalise Kew's much-loved "dancing man" is asking for the community's input.
Harry Solano has offered to honour the late Robin Madden with a sculpture.
Long remembered for dancing on street corners, especially at Kew Junction and in Balwyn, Mr Madden died on May 26 at St George's Hospital.
Mr Solano, owner of The Shoe Sculptor in Balwyn, said Mr Madden used to dance outside his shop at least once a week.
"He used to put a smile on my face," Mr Solano said.
"A lot of people have been missing him so I wanted to create a sculpture to keep his memory alive."
Mr Solano said he had contacted Boroondara Council with his two ideas to see if they would fund the material for the project.
Acting director of community development Helen Molnar confirmed the council was considering the sculpture.
Dr Molnar said the council had asked Mr Solano to provide details so his suggestion could be considered.
"We will wait for details of the proposal, including proposed materials, before making an assessment," Dr Molnar said.
A suggestion for a plaque at Kew Junction was being investigated.
Mr Solano said he was working on a proposal but wanted the community's feedback.
"I really want the community to be involved," he said.
"I have a few ideas but I want to know what people think - we could put a sculpture on each corner that he used to dance on and that would keep the cost low or we could do a life-size version in bronze or marble."
Mr Solano said Mr Madden had touched many people's lives and wanted to pay tribute to someone who had spread joy.
He said he would donate $5 from every heel and sole replacement at his shoe shop to help raise money.
Progress Leader 10 July 2012
http://progress-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/tell-us-kew-dancing-man-tribute/
Eastern Suburbs icon Robin Madden, better known as ‘The Kew Dancing Man’, has sadly passed away.
Robin, who could regularly be seen grooving on a corner of the Kew Junction, became a local legend with his high kicks, big hand waves and eccentric dancing techniques.
‘The Kew Dancing Man’ would regularly take up his spot on the corner where passers-by would toot and wave in support of the lovable local, cheering up many a red-light wait.
Robin told the Herald Sun in 2007 that he danced because ‘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’ Robin said.
Prague House in Cotham Road, where Robin lived for almost 10 years, say Robin passed away on Saturday at the age 67 after a battle with cancer.
He will be missed.
3AW
http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/breaking-news-blog/kew-dancing-man-passes-away/20120601-1zl9q.html
Robin, The Kew Dancing Man passed away on May the 26th.
For anybody that grew up in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne or lived in the area at any stage you will know The Kew Dancing Man.
He made tram rides and drives through Kew Junction the best thing ever.
I remember when he upgraded from a discman to an ipod, he was always SO happy.
What a beautiful smile and dancing style you had Robin.
May you rest in paradise, the streets of Kew won't be the same without you.
Posted by Blithely Unaware at 16:19
http://www.blithelyunaware.com/2012/06/dancing-man.html
(At least a) 5min flash mob dance at NOON this SUNDAY 03/06/12.
Any corner at the Kew Junction, preferebly out the front of the Kew Hotel.
BYO Robin-esque singlet, jeans, portable cassette players and headphones :) Weather could be bad, so rug up and bring a brolly.
Signs encouraged too.
Ideally, this will take-off and have decent public interest from his friends and fans. With that said, the event won't take place until at least 50 people can commit to the event - UPDATE!: We're currently at 135 people! Go team! but please keep clickin SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! It's only 5mins out of your day and will bring a smile to many Sunday drivers... just like what Robin would want :)
RIP Robin! We'll miss those funky moves.
http://www.facebook.com/events/372862326104844/
The man who brought smiles to many faces around Kew, Northcote and Balwyn with his high-kicking dance moves lost his battle with cancer last weekend.
Aged care facility Prague House today confirmed Robin Madden, a long-term resident better known on YouTube as the 'Kew Dancing Man', died last Saturday aged 67.
Robin was most often spotted on busy street corners around the Kew junction area listening to an MP3 player and dancing as he waved to cars passing by. Motorists would toot their horns in appreciation of Robin's energetic dance moves like “The Sprinkler”- with one arm outstretched as he spun around in circles.
“Every time you could hear the car horns tooting you knew he was out the front,” licensee of the Hotel Kew Peter Archbold told The Age.
“He was an institution. He used to come here every day and he'd do about three sessions for us out the front.” Customers always loved the performance, Peter said, and added that the hotel would always shout him his drink of choice - a coke with no ice.
Robin had not been seen around the Hotel Kew for the past ten months and Peter recalls Robin looked increasingly frail the last few times he danced on their corner.
“He'd been carted away a few times in an ambulance because he'd hurt himself dancing or become dehydrated or something,” he said.
As for what Robin listened to on his MP3 player to inspire so much dancing, Mr Archbold said he would constantly update his playlist.
“I think some of the local schoolkids would download stuff and give it to him,” he said.
Robin's dancing had even inspired a Facebook fan page with thousands of followers, where fans continue to post tributes to the local celebrity.
“I'm sure he's grooving away on the corner of the big junction in the sky”, one fan posted.
The AGE. Annie Davis. June 1, 2012
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/last-spin-for-dancing-man-20120601-1zmvk.html
