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.
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.
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.
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
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
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….
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.
