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New Chance For Dance

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By ELIZABETH LEE BROWN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 23, 2008

CARROLLWOOD - A Gasparilla-inspired neighborhood tradition, dormant for nearly a decade, is returning to White Sands Beach.

Civic leaders in Original Carrollwood are resurrecting the community's Pirate Dance, a former annual social event where residents dressed as pirates and elected a Duke and Duchess to reign for a year over the community.

While the original ball was held at a dance hall, the social event will launch from Lake Carroll.

Members of the fictionalized Krewe of Original Carrollwood, made up of members of the Carrollwood Civic Association, will ride on flag-festooned boats to "invade" the neighborhood beach.

The invasion and dance, featuring a live band, will begin at 6 p.m. March 8 at White Sands Beach on Carrollwood Drive. The social event is free and open only to residents of the 931-home Original Carrollwood subdivision, which covers the roads east of North Dale Mabry Highway, south of Fletcher Avenue, and around Lake Carroll.

The Gasparilla-styled community block party started in 1963 as an alternative to driving to south Tampa for similar celebrations. The annual ball continued each year until 1978, then took a 17-year hiatus before returning in 1995.

The costumed party features the crowning of a Duke and Duchess. The last residents to hold those titles were Bob and Katina Johnston in 1999.
Party organizer Tracy Pimpo, a member of the civic board, said the community has rich traditions, such as the Easter egg hunt, Fourth of July parade, Halloween costumed parade and the luminaries on Christmas Eve. Board members wanted to revive the popular costumed gathering.

"We just want to bring back some traditions, just to bring the neighborhood together," she said.

Pimpo said it will be a good way to bring neighbors together, especially homeowners new to Original Carrollwood.

"It will be a great thing to bring back to the community, just as a tradition of the neighborhood," she said.

The festivities likely will include a boat parade, and organizers are discussing adding a twist where the newly elected Duke and Duchess are given the key to the community, she said.

For information on the event, contact Tracy Pimpo at (813) 746-6860 or tracypimpo @originalcarrollwood.com

Reporter Elizabeth Lee Brown can be reached at (813) 865-1502 or ebrown@tampatrib.com.

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