Third Army CWO can't shake "Dance Fever" in desert

Courtesy Photo | Following the salsa dance competition at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Chief Warrant Officer Don E. Kolesar (right), property book officer, USARCENT, Special Troops Battalion, continues to groove with one of the many dance partners he has befriended during his deployment in support of Third Army. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Houston F. White)  

05.31.2007

Courtesy Story

50th Public Affairs Detachment

While military personnel deployed to the scorching climates of the Middle East continuously receive training designed to prevent heat-related injuries, it seems that no amount of safety guidance can stop one member of Third Army/USARCENT from catching a permanent case of "dance fever."

Since the day he took his first steps onto the dance floor of a church function at the tender age of eleven, CWO3 Don E. Kolesar, property book officer, USARCENT, Special Troops Battalion, has used dancing as everything from a stress reliever to a form of physical training.

"Dancing is my PT and exercise," smiled the 54-year-old, who has reaped the benefits of increased leg strength and stamina by finishing first in his age group consistently in various distance running/walking events while deployed. "It allows me to enjoy the thrill of youth and keeps me in good shape. I've been able to drop 30 pounds dancing so far on this deployment and for that I thank all the ladies I have danced with for being great partners."

"Nothing bothers me around here [Kuwait] because dancing makes me happy and eliminates all my stress," he added. "I'm actually enjoying my current assignment because of it."

Developing a deep passion for the art form from his wife Sylvia, the "Dancing Chief" as he is known to many of the personnel at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, has built a following of admirers due in part to the energy and style he displays each time he steps onto the dance floor.

"I've worked with him for the past few months and what strikes me the most about him is that he dances with such a fever or passion," mentioned CWO4 Ida Tyree-Hyche, human resources officer, USARCENT, STB. "He really puts himself into the dance and doesn't stay 'inside the box' because of his passion."

"His dancing reminds me of The Great Gatsby or something from the Jazz Age," added the Birmingham, Ala., native, who assisted Kolesar in choreographing an electrifying routine for a recent salsa dance competition that drew a standing ovation from the audience.

"I knew that he was very passionate about Latin-American dancing because he always plays his music at work and he told stories about dancing in clubs with his wife," remarked Charleston, S.C., native SSG Natacha M. Rueda, security management noncommissioned officer, USARCENT, STB. "It's crazy because when I look at him I see a sweet old man like my grandpa, but when he starts dancing he turns into an energetic, youthful, charismatic person."

Not surprisingly, Kolesar lists his bride of 36 years as the paramount reason for his love of dancing and music.

"My wife was born in Mexico and when we met she was one of the most fabulous tejano [a cross between salsa and western style] dancers I had ever seen," Kolesar remarked. Whenever I danced with her I noticed nothing else. Her smile and her moves were like an angel on the [dance] floor and even today when I see Latin ladies dancing it reminds me of her."

With decades of dancing experience under his belt, Kolesar, a native of Victoria, Texas, has developed the unique ability to get his groove on to virtually any music under the sun, including hip-hop and "old school" rhythm and blues.

"I've been dancing for more than 40 years," he said. "During that time I've been through the John Travolta era with disco music, the Willie Nelson era with country music and I also dance to Spanish music like tejano and salsa. Over time my tastes in music have grown to the point that now I can pretty much dance to anything with a beat that I can feel."

According to Kolesar, dancing has also been a great way in general to meet and build friendships with many people of diverse backgrounds.

"Music is the universal language that crosses all boundaries and races," he said. "I dance four times each week at the various music nights and have made friends at every one of them."

• Date Taken: 05.31.2007
• Date Posted: 06.18.2007 15:01
• Story ID: 10887