Saturday, March 30, 2019

Sunday in the Park with Mike: Sk8 Godfather David Miles

On St. Patrick's Day Sunday a couple of weeks ago, when the rain briefly paused for a glorious weekend, I walked from 9th Avenue to the Haight through Golden Gate Park. Springtime was literally bursting out all over.

While walking an interior trail I heard dance music booming away nearby so I reconnoitered with the sound. It turned out to be the roller disco dance party just off of Fulton Street hosted by David Miles, who for decades has been known as The Sk8 Godfather.

Circling in roller rink style, the most diverse collection of characters in terms of race, age, gender, sexual preference, you name it, rolled by.

It looked like a time capsule from another era in San Francisco which was heartening.

David Miles deserves all the credit for this goofy, sunny resistance to capitalist culture.

Miles announced the first roller disco line dance...

...and people of completely differing abilities joined in.

The routine was fun, athletic and fabulous...

...and if I wasn't scared of breaking a wrist in about 30 seconds, it would have been a joy to join them.

1 comment:

Nancy Ewart said...

So glad to read that he's still doing the beat down boogie. I used to do this in my younger days. All that movement and music was a fantastic way to dance off the week's work blues.