Icy weather hasn’t frozen the dancing tunes of Jim frank trio 3 Reasons to Dance


PHOTOS and Story By Katie Rickman

krickman@vindy.com

STRUTHERS

As daylight quickly fades, music can be heard as one crosses the snow-covered bridge heading across the creek toward the lodge at Yellow Creek Park.

The music grows louder as the Jim Frank Trio continues into its first song inside the cozy lodge. The weather hasn’t discouraged everyone, and inside a fire burns.

The band encourages people to make requests, and several hit the dance floor ready to go.

The band starts with a slow song but quickly changes tempo, and those serious about dancing along to polka tunes venture to the dance floor.

Kathy Coats and John Roman are among the dancers. They energetically dance along to the upbeat music and are joined out on the floor by Steve Croyle and his dance partner, Fran Furano.

Among the small crowd, Jennifer Frank, daughter of the band’s lead singer, Jim Frank, sits and listens to the music. She takes pictures of the performance and dancers and says that the winter concert is a good thing. She loves to support her father since he has always supported her.

Shortly before its break, the band, known for playing many styles of music, sings the slow, sultry song “Speak Softly, Love,” fitting the brisk winter night. The dancers sway closely together and for a moment, they seem to be lost in the dance. Although the crowd is small, the winter concert is a success.