Hamilton’s ‘Dancing Guy’ just can’t stop grooving

Hamilton resident Jed Lifeson doesn't go for a stroll; he goes for a dance. He doesn't run his errands; he prances his way to wherever he's heading.

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The "Dancing Guy," as locals call him, has caught the media's eye once again this week as the subject of a CBC profile about how he became a boogieing staple on Hamilton's Main Street.

Lifeson grew up in Serbia with a musical mother who performed often, according to CBC. He moved to Canada when he was 14, but he didn't become the dancing man he is today until his mother nearly died of a diabetic coma in 2003.

When she survived, he told the broadcaster he was so happy he took to the streets and danced. He carried on, dancing even when he was out of work, dependent on food banks and welfare.

Lifeson's dancing draws stares, both of amusement and confusion, and his story is well-documented. A Facebook page dedicated to him has more than 8,841 "Likes" on Facebook.

And while he might look crazy, he's lead some to rethink what crazy really means.

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Rather than asking why Lifeson dances day and night, the Hamilton Spectator was inclined to ponder why, by contrast, the rest of us don't dance.

In a short documentary by Kirkland Films, Hamiltonians said the dancing guy's love of life was an inspiration and described him as an example for all of us.