Dancing dad helps daughter's flag team earn green

Palatine's Jeff Curtin said he wasn't afraid of playing the part of the fool.

In fact, his shenanigans helped raise $1,000 for the Fremd High School Varsity Flag Team, of which his daughter Amy is a member.

The 48-year-old Curtin's moves on the dance floor earned him the title of Mr. TEAMDance Illinois. Voters watched 43-second video clips from 12 contestants online and picked Curtin. Those videos were taken from performances from last year. The winner was named on March 2 in Peoria. Dancers were moving to a medley of the Village People's "Macho Man," and M.C. Hammer's "U Can't Touch This."

The fierce field included fathers, brothers and grandfathers of girls competing in the high school contests. This was the competition's first year. And the field was fierce. Curtin said out of the 3,500 voters, 617 voted for him.

"Two of the dads wouldn't shake my hand," Curtin said. "They had taken extensive dance lessons and couldn't believe I had beaten them."

Curtin said his everyman mystique resonated with voters, because he had no choreography. He's not a professional dancer by day; he sells medical equipment.

"I wanted to win because I wanted to help give back to my high school," he said.

Curtin also won a $100 gift certificate to Home Depot.

The money will be used for equipment, said Amy Curtin, a senior at Fremd, who is set to attend Iowa State University in the fall. She said she had to beg her father in October to dance.

"I thought it was hilarious to see him dance," the 18-year-old said.

The older Curtin described his routine as "impromptu emotion." While his daughter and her teammates prep about six hours a week for their routines, Curtin gave absolutely no thought into his winning performance.

The TDI contests aren't sanctioned by the Illinois High School Association, but TDI does abide by IHSA rules. Mr. TDI was a way to increase participation and add a fun wrinkle to the events, according to the TDI Web site.

The Fremd girls took home first place in the winter guard and second in the tall flag. Amy Curtin said her mother inspired her to get involved as she was in flags when she was high school. Now with her father showing off his moves, the family circle is complete.