Let’s Do The Twist

The above photo was taken in high school at a Friday night dance party in the cafeteria. This photo ended up in our yearbooks.

Even though my wife, Carrie, and I dance every chance we get these days, there was a time, long ago, when we danced everywhere all of the time. Dancing has changed over the years, the latest dance moves, the lack of body movement that I once took for granted, and how often we can get out to find some dancing.

There once was a place in Lansing, Illinois called Pointe East. It was a very popular dance club. The only problem is that you have to be of drinking age to enter. Or do you???

It was 1980, a full three years before we tied the knot. We planned a night out with our friend, Dave, and Carrie’s sister, Teresa. Dave was talking up a new club that we might be able to get into. He was the only one of drinking age at the time.

“Guys, why don’t we drive over to Lansing and give this new dance club a try?”

“How are we going to get in? We are all still under age.” Carrie said abruptly.

“I know one of the bouncers and I think we can get through. They have a raised circular dance floor in the middle of this huge space. Seating goes all the way around and up three flights. There are bars on all four sides. It will be a blast. What do you say?”

“I think we should try it out.” I said confidently.

And that was that. We planned on riding out to Pointe East on Friday night. That evening we all piled into Dave’s car. The drive flew by as we were all catching up on our week. When we arrived in the parking lot of Pointe East, Dave drove in and found a spot even though the place was packed. So now, the moment of truth. Can we actually get into this place?

It was a cool, dark October Friday evening and our brisk walk to the front entrance was hurried. We joined the end of a line awaiting our turn with the two bouncers.

“Oh no!” Dave explained in a whispered voice.

“What?” I asked.

“My buddy isn’t working the door tonight. I don’t know these two guys.”

“Well, we are here. Let’s try our luck.”

As it turned out the line moved quickly and we were finally in the front. Dave provided his driver’s license and was admitted in. Teresa, Carrie and I were next. While one bouncer was busy with another couple we focused on our man. He grabbed all three licenses and produced a sad frustrated face. The news was not going to be good.

“Sir,” I suggested. “We are not here to drink alcohol. We just heard you have one of the best dance floors around. Can’t you let us in to just dance for a while? We won’t be any trouble at all.”

“Sorry buddy, but it’s against the law.” He seemed to be firm on this.

“Look, I know it’s the law, how about you give us a break this time and let us in for a few dances and then we will leave? No drinking I promise.”

I must have somehow appealed to his good nature because I could see he was breaking, if even just a bit. He looked back and forth and then back at me.

“Look, get in there and have a few nice dances with your ladies and then get the hell out of here.” He shoved our licenses back into my hand.

And so it was, a wonderful large room with an amazing dance floor. We made our way in and found a table for four. Dave disappeared to the bar to bring back a pitcher of beer. True to our word, the three of us stayed away from the cool beverage despite Dave’s insistence and the temptation.

“Let’s dance!” I bellowed out and we all went for the raised dance floor. It was so cool to get out there and dance the night away. That is except for one small problem…

After only the first dance together, an announcer climbed up to the dance floor with a microphone and declared, “Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to our Friday night dance contest.” I looked at him and to my utter surprise, it was the bouncer who illegally allowed us inside Pointe East. I turned to Carrie and Teresa with a bit of fear on my face.

“Maybe we should leave.” Teresa suggested with hesitance.

“No way. Let’s have some fun and see what this is all about.” I returned. I have always loved competition and this was a contest. We aren’t going to win, I was sure, but at least it would be fun.

And like magic, the dance floor assimilated into dance partners. One odd man out left the floor to return to his sorry table. The music kicked up a notch and the dancing resumed.

We were well into the fifth song when I looked up to notice that half the dancers had left. The reason was pure exhaustion. The DJ was playing very fast dance numbers with no break. This contest was going to be about endurance. We went another five songs before it was down to four couples.

“We’re out!” Dave declared as he walked Teresa off the floor. Then there were three couples.

“Okay, ladies and gentlemen, we are going to wrap this contest up with one final dance, the Twist!” And that’s when he saw us. I guessed he wasn’t paying too much attention, but now we definitely had his. We were supposed to be leaving by now and certainly not entering a dance contest. But there we were.

The DJ had some kind of magic with his gear because he was able to loop Chubby Checker’s famous Twist song so it would play nonstop until there was only one couple left.

“I’m tired!” Carrie declared.

“My side is aching,” I contributed. We were pouring down with sweat. The longer the Twist went on and on and finally another couple stepped down and off the stage. I caught a competitive look from the other couple.

“Carrie, we got this. Let’s twist faster.” Intimidation is a worthy tool in battle.

I looked around again and this time caught a disturbing scowl from the bouncer/announcer. He grimaced in our direction hoping for us to stop. No way buddy, we got this!

The Twist spun on and on with four fighting dancers in the middle of an empty dance floor. I looked into Carrie’s eyes and knew she was hurting but there was no way she was going to give up.

Just then the other couple threw their arms up into the air and bowed to an applauding crowd of onlookers. We had won!

The music stopped. Carrie and I stopped. The announcer took the microphone with him out to the middle of the dance floor.

“Everyone, we have a winning couple! Great dancing you two. Tell me your names.” And we did. “Well tonight’s winning couple will get a free coupon for a pitcher of Heineken Beer!” The crowd went wild with applause and whistles. The announcer wiped the excited smile off his face as he turned to us with an extended ticket. I reached out for the ticket. He let me grab it but refused to release it. He stared me down with an awful sneer. He began to speak.

“Nice dancing you two, now take this damn ticket and don’t come back here again until you are of age.” He released the ticket and the crowd rose up for another rousing round of applause. The normal dance music resumed and the dancefloor flooded. I grabbed Carrie’s hand and walked her off the stage.

“Nice job you two!” Both Dave and Teresa said at the same time.

“How about we buy you both an ice cold German beer?”

“Sure!” So I did. We sat around our little table and enjoyed the fruits of our labor, the spoils of our battle. When we finished, we got up and left. Carrie waved at the bouncer but he just turned around and walked away.

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