“The kids in Bristol are sharp as a pistol … when they do the Bristol Stomp.”

Folks living in the early 1960s will remember that famous rock ‘roll classic by Len Barry and the Dovells, which helped give our fair community instantaneous music recognition. Now, more than 50 years later, the Bristol Stomp and many other familiar tunes of that era, will infiltrate the Bristol Town Common basketball court on Saturday, June 17, for what organizers hope will be the first annual Bristol Stomp Block Dance.

The event, scheduled for 6:30-10 p.m., will feature DJ John Rozz and Sound Spectrum Entertainment. Admission is free. In the event of rain, the event will be held at the Bristol Maritime Center, 127 Thames St.

Local residents Ann Marie (Almeida) Clarkson and Lisa Fonseca came up with the idea to bring back the block dance. Ms. Fonseca, who co-owns Century 21 Topsail Realty with her husband, Michael Fonseca, and Ms. Clarkson, a Century 21 Topsail real estate agent, are doing most of the legwork. Century 21 Topsail and the Bristol Fourth of July Committee are sponsoring the dance.

“We’re really hoping the block dance goes over big,” said Ms. Clarkson. “This will be a blast from the past. I remember going to the original block dances on the basketball court when I was a teenager. They were always well-attended and a lot of fun. This town has got to get dancing again.”

Ms. Fonseca said she loves to dance, and is hoping many people will turn out on June 17 to do the same.

“I think this is going to be really something great,” she said. “I hope it can be an annual lead-in to the Concert Series at Independence Park.”

Fourth of July Committee Chairwoman Donna Falcoa said she loves the idea of having the Block Dance back in Bristol.

“I am excited to see this event brought back this year,” she said. “I have heard a lot of positive feedback. I'm very happy that Lisa Fonseca and Ann Marie Clarkson contacted me to talk about bringing it back, and would like to thank Century 21 Topsail Realty for sponsoring this event.”

Block dances on the Town Common basketball court are certainly no stranger to those youngsters who danced the night away decades ago to such famous rock ‘n roll standards as “The Twist,” “The Stroll” and “Goodnight My Love,” just to name a few. It was a simpler time when boy-meets-girl had a special ring to it.

For many years, Block Dances were also held in front of the Reynolds School as part of the Fourth of July Celebration, and they, too, were immensely popular, said longtime Fourth of July Committee member Russell Head.

“The Block Dances in front of the Reynolds School go back to the late 1940s and 1950s,” he said. “They used to shut off High Street in front of the Reynolds School area, and the kids would have a heck of a time dancing.”

Among the originators of the block dance craze in Bristol on the Town Common was former Bristol Recreation girls’ playground supervisor and program director Naomi (Sousa) Carpenter. Now 84, Ms. Carpenter, who worked in Bristol Recreation for more than 20 years, remembers vividly those days when entertaining the youth of Bristol in a friendly, safe environment during the summer months was a major priority. Seated in her Oliver Street home, she recollected those hot summer nights during the 1960s when the weekly Block Dance offered youngsters a chance to dance outdoors.

“I remember Louis Evans, a local electrician, hooking everything up for us,” she said. “He really did everything for us. I couldn’t be more excited that they’re bringing back block dances on the Common. It’s wonderful.”

The sounds of Elvis, Chuck Berry and Ritchie Valens would fill the air as the 45s were played through a loud speaker. Kids showed off the best dancing moves, and because of people like Ms. Carpenter, parents didn’t have worry about the safety or whereabouts of their children. Organizers are hoping for just such a throw-back event, and Ms. Carpenter has a suggestion for the attendees:
“Wouldn’t it be neat if many of the people who are planning to attend the block dance, especially those from the 1950s, come dressed in attire from that generation? That would be great.”