I’m your sign dancer
A dancer for money
I’ll dance any corner you want me to
Fresno has flair. And often it exceeds the mandatory 15 pieces – or in this case, dancers.
What am I talking about? You know … those folks on every major street corner jumping, jiving, twisting and, sometimes, skating with the ‘shop here’ signs.
I remember spotting the first one while visiting Fresno a several years ago. It was a guy with some incredibly smooth moves pimpin’ West Coast Fish & Chips.
It was a sight to behold. He waved, winked and mixed in extra-special steps if you grinned and returned the friendly gesture. He grabbed my attention so thoroughly the car behind had to honk after the light changed.
Within a few years, the attention-getting advertising was everywhere. On Herndon and Blackstone there was an outright dance-off. When the drivers gave approval to one, the others would two-step, shimmy and Charleston with more zest.
It was like watching circus performers trying to outdo each other. Whoever contorted and gained most attention won – for the moment at least. One guy didn’t keep his trade to the cement. He popped, locked and dropped it through the crosswalk.
This angered the dancers on the other side. They confronted him like hookers guarding their corner. He didn’t faze — just mocked them with wilder moves and kept on groovin’ when the signal flashed green.
All aren’t so vibrant and energetic. On Blackstone and Gettysburg is a chubby, sad guy limply shuffling with an occasional tilt of his sign. What he’s selling, I don’t know. I just feel bad he has to be out there.
I’m guessing dancing all day is hard work for the money – especially in this Valley heat. Last week, I saw a 20-something girl in a canary-yellow outfit walking into Jay’s Oasis (or whatever it’s called these days) with her sign on First and Shaw. She looked ready to pass out. Her clothes were saturated with sweat — even the back crack of her short-shorts was drenched. I imagined she smelled like a salt lick.
Apparently even grandpas get into the act. On First and Ashlan is an older gentleman, wearing a butcher’s apron, soliciting customers with his simple Renna’s Meat Market sign during the weekday evening commute.
Of course, Fresno had flair before it was a career. Back in the day (like 15 – 20 years ago for you younglings) it was organic and ranged free.
Most anytime, in front of Fashion Fair mall, a young man hip-hopped and twirled while wearing his Walkman* and headband-style headphones*. Occasionally he was spotted elsewhere in the 93726 – but typically Shaw Street was his stage.
And then there was Chuck, the legend of Shields and Maple. I don’t know if he was intentionally dancing – but his shuffling steps might have been to an internal beat.
Oh, and ZOMG, who could forget Bus Stop Guy? He was more of a West Fresno treat. He didn’t disco or jazzercise but his fashion statement was a grabber — and always the same. His ultra threadbare tee could wrinkle your nose and brow, but it was his bold, black torpedo bra that would launch your false teeth.
Fresno has flair — yes, we do.
Now it’s your turn. Share your flair.
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*Walkman – A trademark used for a pocket-sized cassette player, compact disk player, radio, or combined unit with lightweight earphones.
*Headband-style headphones
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Genevieve Hinson is a social media coordinator for Children's Hospital Central California. She's also a writer, wife and mom to two boys and a girl. The opinions she expresses here are her own, as is her obsession for coffee.
