Bob’s Dance Shop: Celebrating Queer Identity and Community Building
Bob's Dance Shop is an acclaimed queer dance collective that has gained worldwide recognition for its fun and positive flash mobs. This electrifying collective isn't your average dance troupe; it's a vibrant celebration of queer artistry and inclusivity. Founded by the irrepressible Vince Coconato – Bob's Dance Shop is more than just a group of skilled dancers; it's a community, a safe haven where everyone, regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, can join in and shine with their own unique identity. Since its inception, the collective has placed a significant emphasis on queer expression, which has become an integral part of its identity. Bob's Dance Shop is a welcoming community that celebrates diversity and encourages people to let their true selves shine.
““Being queer is a superpower. It’s a strength, it’s an advantage, it’s a gift. It’s not something to be ashamed of, it’s something to be celebrated””
In a candid interview with the founder of Bob's Dance Shop, Vince Coconato shared the story of how the collective came to be and why it's essential to celebrate queer expression. Growing up in Central Florida, Coconato was made to feel ashamed of his queer identity and felt deeply closeted and suppressed. He recalls a personal story (probably not too dissimilar from many queer people growing up) of watching himself dancing to “Rhythm is a Dancer” and then immediately feeling a sense of shame. The VHS tape served as a poignant symbol of the suppression that he endured for years.
““When I was nine, I put on one of my sister’s gymnastics unitard and danced to that song [Rhythm is a Dancer] while my sister recorded me on VHS. And I remember watching that tape back, and I got so terrified because I was so flamboyant and girly, and I immediately hid the tape. And no one ever saw it. I still don’t know where I hid it.” ”
After college, Coconato left Central Florida for California, and Los Angeles became the canvas for his artistic rebirth. He left behind a life of fraternity presidency and closeted conformity – and finally found the freedom to explore, discover, and ultimately embrace his true self without “anyone having any pre-understanding of who I was and who I used to be.”
It was during this time of personal growth and newfound liberation that Coconato created his dream business, Twisted Oak Creative. This company, an extension of Coconato’s innovative brain, would become the umbrella under which Bob’s Dance Shop and his other creative ventures would live. To understand the relationship between Twisted Oak Creative and Bob’s Dance Shop, Coconato explains: “think of Twisted Oak as the Walt Disney universe where you have Cinderella, Snow White, all the other princesses. Well, underneath Twisted Oak, there are these characters. 12 of them, each with their unique personality and style. Well – Bob was the first. But there are others, like Polaroid Pete that will come in too.” Under the Twisted Oak banner, Coconato crafted 12 characters, each of which was a means for him to express himself fully and authentically, showcasing the flamboyance, fashion, and vibrancy that he had once suppressed (somewhere hidden on a VHS tape).
Digging into the notable characters Coconato mentions – Bob (being the group’s namesake) was born from an inside joke at Coconato’s day job from a bright yellow bowling shirt embroidered with the name, but grew into the personification and guiding character for the group and the flash mobs.
““[After creating Twisted Oak] my first project in LA was a flash mob at the promenade in Santa Monica, but I had no name. And I was like, got it. It’s going to be a flash mob named Bob. And I became Bob. This very flamboyant, spunky personality. I even wore the yellow bowling shirt.” ”
Although he found a sense of accomplishment and creative fulfillment from these dance videos, Coconato lost his day job soon after, and this takes the creation story through an unexpected turn. After losing his job, Coconato embarked on a transformative hitchhiking trip from Los Angeles to Seattle. This fateful trip, which he documented on a vintage Polaroid camera, pushed Coconato beyond his comfort zones, connecting with strangers and relying on intuition. The encounters on the road, often serendipitous, would provide Coconato with deep insight into his true priorities, give birth to a new character Polaroid Pete (the last of his 12), and plant the seeds for what would later become Bob's Dance Shop.
Returning from his LA to Seattle odyssey, and faced with financial challenges and a desire to avoid a conventional day job, Coconato looked to his repertoire of characters for inspiration. “So I looked at all the 12 characters underneath Twisted Oak and I thought, who is the main character? Who is the sun in the solar system? Who is Zeus in this mythology? And it was Bob. And so out of that, in December of 2019, I officially started Bob's Dance Shop”, Coconato explains.
In December 2019, Bob's Dance Shop was born, initially as a way to make ends meet by hosting in-person dance experiences. Little did Bob know that a pandemic was about to reshape the world, setting the stage for a virtual revolution. Lockdown turned dance classes into virtual experiences, with roommates Lito, Lucas Hive and Kameron with a K, joining the ranks of the Bobs. What started as a Sunday “dance church” during the pandemic evolved into a global phenomenon. The magic of Bob's Dance Shop lies not just in its accidental origin but in the intentional depth woven into its fabric. These are more than just performances; they're acts of systemic defiance, declarations of joy, and testaments to the power of community.
Bob's Dance Shop is more than a dance group; it's a haven, a sanctuary, a paradise for authentic expression. The inclusivity of their spaces, whether in big cities or through online communities, is intentional. They aim to spark a realization in individuals that such spaces exist, leaving an indelible mark on those who experience it. Coconato expresses this sentiment by saying, "We want them to have that possibility of just being in that space and experiencing that these spaces actually exist. It's to intentionally spark something in that person. And once you experience it, you are kind of changed. You can't unfeel what you felt."
In short, Bob's Dance Shop is more than just a dance collective; it's a movement. It's a vibrant beacon of acceptance, a testament to the transformative power of art, and a celebration of the
human spirit in all its glorious diversity. As Coconato puts it, "We want to inspire people to express themselves freely and to be proud of who they are. We want to celebrate queer artistry and inclusivity, and we want to spread joy and positivity through dance."
Featured Bobs:
@Vincecoconato
@thekameronwithak
@LucasHive
@j.thomasito
Photographer:@MaximoXtravaganza
Directors: @Ktpaul @polobear_irl
Stylists: @VinceCoconato @polobear_irl
Bob's Dance Shop epitomizes the profound impact of art, serving as both a vibrant celebration of diversity and a catalyst for positive change. Guided by Coconato's visionary leadership, this collective resonates with those that experience this unique art form, online or on stage, leaving an enduring impression through its welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Bob’s Dance Shop embodies the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative potential of collective expression, challenging societal norms with every dance step. Drawing from the strength gained through their own journey, no matter how turbulent at times – the Bobs have created a space for others to find liberation and the freedom to express themselves authentically, unencumbered by judgment or prejudice. In short, Bob's Dance Shop fosters unity through diversity, inviting all to revel in the beauty of queer art and join in the joyous celebration of true self expression.