Dancing Dan

Just found out the «Dancing Dan» character in «Raising Hope» is based on our very own Dancing Dan of Frederick! The writer went to Frostburg and makes frequent references to Frederick and Hagerstown in his work with «My Name is Earl.» Go Dancin’ Dan — you can’t help but smile when you run into him!

Dancing Dan brings joy to the masses with his enthusiastic bee-​bop in downtown Frederick! Thank you Dancing Dan for sharing your full-​hearted-​self with our community. Check-​out his new Facebook page, too!

Everyone loves Dancin’ Dan. If you don’t love Dancin’ Dan you must be wunna them godless commies.

The last time I saw Dancing Dan was early last summer. I almost ran him over in a crosswalk near Baker Park. He was striding along with his toothy smile, enormous headphones and bouncy tennis ball. He walks so fast! I slammed on my brakes and he bowed to me and did this sweeping arm gesture; telling me to drive along. I haven’t seen him in ages. I hope he’s OK. Dancing Dan sightings are rare and magical; like catching a leprechaun.

Frederick Icon and local celebrity! Dancing Dan is a local guy who walks/​dances/​trots around the city of Frederick. With biker shorts and Walkman and earphone in hand (although the headphones are rarely if ever plugged into the Walkman itself). Dancing to the music (in his head perhaps?) Dan has become a sort of an urban legend in the city of Frederick. Whatever the case Dan will more than likely put a huge smile on your face as he does the «pelvic thrust dance» while crossing the street in front of your car!
Following from the Frederick News-​Post:
On this day, he’s wearing a red shirt, a white baseball cap and a pair of shorts pulled tight by a belt. In one hand he carries a tennis ball he likes to squeeze and bounce. In the other is a water bottle he occasionally flips from hand to hand. The bulging calves of his tanned legs twitch as he’s in the air making an imaginary hook shot. He lands. Tim Saunders emerges from a store and waves at him.
Mr. Burnnette’s says his walking style started in the early ‘90s out of boredom and as a form of self expression. He doesn’t drive. Walking — stepping to the beat of music — is more enjoyable. He buys tapes and says he has been getting into contemporary Christian music lately.
He got a «lot of flack» for dancing on the sidewalks initially, he says. A few people told him it looked weird.
He didn’t listen to them, and the more he danced, the more he liked it, he says. After a while, people began calling him Dancin’ Dan and the name stuck.
His timing got so good that he could do 360-​degree turns, and stop instantly, or twirl around poles. He denies reports from people in town who say they’ve seen him halt traffic at intersections. But he has come close to getting hit a few times, so he says he has learned to be on the defensive.
He doesn’t mind how he’s perceived, he says.
«Some people love it. Some people think I’m off-​the-​wall. I know who I am.»
He has an aptitude for poetry. Five of his poems were published in different publications. One he wrote, «Cute Don’t Cut It,» is about how people base their opinion on the way things appear externally.
«A lot of times, we don’t go deeper,» Mr. Burnnette says. «We don’t have any depth. What about what really counts? Children are cute, and so are puppies, but they’re also immature.»
He’s learned to be frugal. He buys vegetables at Dollar General that are 3 for $ 1. He eats healthy food, is health conscious, and his interest in health extends to his emotional well-​being. He keeps family and friends close to him.