The Janitor

Created 1996
Choreographers: Stephanie Pizzo & Dan Hollander

Finally I hit my big break placing 3rd in the U.S. Tom Collins invited me to skate on his tour, the same tour that I saw Scott Hamilton when I was 5. I had this idea of being a janitor mopping up, starting to dance to the music and finds himself embarrassed because he didn’t know there were people in the stands. The music starts again, and he decides to just go with it. It took me hours following around Steph Pizzo, my off ice dance coach to teach me some rhythm! The number was a hit on tour, and my 18 cities turned into 48. Yes, it also helped that Surya was injured and Candelaro’s work visa was messed up. I can not even begin to tell you how cool it was when a little girl leaned over the ledge to point at me and say, “look mommy, its the funny guy!” It reminded me when I was 5, laughing at the funny guy dressed in a chicken outfit…