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Oral History Interview with Manny Carlos
Audio from Oral History Interview conducted on January 5, 2002
Transcript of Audio
Interviewer: How did you get the idea?
Manny: We get the idea from those guys. When I came here, I danced a little bit, because when you’re on the other side every Sunday you get together [and dance]. At that time I’m fourteen and some fifteen, sixteen, seventeen-year-old girls start dancing over there and they call me to dance. Alright, I go dance with them. And I dance a little bit, I learn a little bit, but I thought it’s nothing. And when I came here I went to Mineola High School. The teacher over there, she said – because in that time, there’s some Portuguese over there already – “do you know how to dance some?” A little bit, I said, because I thought the other guys danced good! “Alright, you’re going to have to practice tomorrow between this period and the other.” We went to that. A friend of mine in school at that time is an accordion player, so he starts playing. “Alright, you guys start – I like to watch.” They start and I said, Oh my God! I thought they were [going to be] really good. “Alright, I’m going to pick up this girl over here, let’s dance.” When she saw me, she said, “Wow! Manny, you go in the front! Try to teach them.” “Teach? No, I don’t want to teach. They’re here longer than me; I don’t know. I don’t want problems with these guys here.” Then at that time we got a little group over there in Mineola High School.”