What I Learned From the Central Park Roller Skaters

Roller skating is making a comeback! Meet the Central Park Dance Skaters.
Audio description is available for this video. Go to Settings - Audio Track - English Descriptive.
Since the pandemic began, skate shops can't keep roller skates on the shelves. Roller skating videos are trending on Tiktok and KZbin. Roller skating was at its peak of popularity during the 1970s, but for the last few decades, roller rinks have shut down across the United States.
There is one group in New York City's Central Park that has kept the tradition alive for almost a century. The Central Park dance skaters have been fighting for the right to skate in the park for years. In this episode of Subcultured, Josef Lorenzo goes to the season opener of the Central Park skate circle, and gets a dance skate lesson at a rink in Brooklyn, New York.
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#SubculturedPBS #RollerSkating #CentralPark nyc subcultured pbs bill butler new york roller skaters new york roller skating CPDSA josef lorenzo impala roller skates moonlight roller skate moxi jack sure grip roller skates moxi jack boot audio description descriptive audio #JosefLorenzo

[@pbsvoices]

Every episode of Subcultured includes audio descriptions. Go to Settings - Audio Track - English Descriptive

[@blahanger4304]

Good to see young and old having so much fun.

[@latesummer]

the sense of community is so moving, happy theyre persevering

[@pbsvoices]

community is really important, thats what Subcultured is all about

[@miseentrope]

My mom (born 1943) married my dad (born 1939) because he could skate backward. No lie. The only times I (born 1970) ever saw them model/demonstrate affection was at the roller rink when they skate danced...and they were flawless and smooth as they danced to Santo & Johnny.

[@pbsvoices]

i didn't know skating backwards was that powerful. good to know!

[@Swishy_Blue]

Dang dude, everybody do your best to get this series trending! Viva la Subcultured !

[@samwill7259]

Life has been so hard, SO hard lately. If people skating is how they throw the finger to that world, then skate on you crazy heroes.

[@james.w.banks.iv.]

Woohoo new episode!! AND it has audio description!! Shoutout New York!!

[@ReaMoonASMR]

Love Subcultured!! Great episode!

[@johnkennedysmith]

I really hope Subcultured doesn't end like the previous series. Really loving these videos and the respect shown for all these communities. It should just be a regular feature of this channel.

[@EtakehOh]

I went from Oh fun, roller-skating! to oh f#ck Giuliani an instant.

[@keithsimpson6386]

MY MAN HARRY! I see him every week on adults nights at United Skates of America in Seaford. Im 21 and just started skating heavy the past month and a half, him and the others down there on adult nights are always encouraging and helpful. Progress has been great because of them.

[@pbsvoices]

Harry is full of joy and loves skating. Just someone that puts a smile on people's faces.

[@TheHashtagHEROTV]

Beautiful mini doc! I’m one of the newer skaters and the central park community as been nothing but welcoming and kind 💖🥰 This also brought back memories of going to Empire as a kid! I had no idea the rich history about that 🤩

[@pbsvoices]

That's awesome, I hope to see you around

[@DJVINNIE]

awesome job - I DJ'd for cpdsa and crazy legs for a while years ago, until i couldnt...now im hoping to get back in!! the best people are there LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

[@frankmaiorana7324]

So did I, Vinny. Back in like 2006 or 2007. Best people best vibe and I played throughout the Bronx, Queens and NYC and skated too. Miss it immensely

[@Roxy4utube]

Miss you guys! Miss my skating with all of you in Central Park many years ago! So great to see you all again and know you're still going strong! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Bunny!

[@Harleywayne]

LOVE this! We definitely need more places in NY to skate. I'm in upstate NY, near Buffalo and they are ALL run down. So sad but the skate must go on!

[@pbsvoices]

what are some places you can go skating up state?

[@Harleywayne]

@@pbsvoices I mean...I wouldn't even recommend any of the places I checked out. I went to a rink in Franklinville and well, they gave my husband a pair of skates with a hole in them about the size of a golf ball. The amount of young adults hanging out looking suspect was enough for us to walk out. I was in Buffalo all day today looking for skate shops and local rinks...I was told no on the skate shops and places to purchases skates and I called a couple of rinks and they said they were closed for the summer. I'm actually having concrete put down and a ramp on my property so I can practice. I go to the Jamestown Skate Shop (skateboards) for bearings or safety pads...helmet stuff like that. BUT, they have an indoor skate park with a bowl ramps all the good stuff, I've just never skated on it. If you hear of anything or any l ocal skate groups let me know.

[@DefektoPrime]

What a terrific way to spend some free time. Socialising and exercising, while grooving to some tunes. I love it!

[@pbsvoices]

good energy, good feelings

[@Finn7297_]

skating isn’t “back.” it never left

[@pbsvoices]

During the 2000s there was a decline in the amount of people roller skating. Many roller rinks across the country closed after the 2008 recession too. Maybe you know of a rink you skated at that has closed too. During the pandemic though, there has been a resurgence. I think it's really interesting that at one time skating in Central Park was frowned upon by the local government, but now there are hosted skate nights in the park's Wollmans rink.

[@5beswee]

I started skating in the 80”s in MA when there were rinks EVERYWHERE then came the “Disco sucks” time period and most of the rinks closed. I now live in VA and started skating again. For the past 6 years I’ve visited rinks in and out of my area usually on a adult night!!! I turned 60 this year and have a blast every week and when I travel I always have my skates with me. The moves these days are CRAZY COOL and I hold my own with the best skaters in my rink. The most fun is getting a new skater excited in the sport and coming back every week. Roller skating is definitely on the comeback!!!!!! Try it you’ll like it. Don’t be afraid to ask for help from the better skaters. Roller Dome, Chester skateland and Peninsula skate is where you’ll find me

[@pbsvoices]

Thanks for sharing your story Brian! Disco is great, and roller skating is great too. I'm glad that more and more people seeing that.

[@richardgrobertson5293]

Peninsula sucks- terrible crowd! Ghetto trash

[@richardgrobertson5293]

I experienced Central Park and fell in love with it and still love it! The best music! The people are so friendly and diverse! No longer living in NYC but I always go see the skaters on visits. Love it!

[@TheGwizmiester]

Absolutely Funky fresh

[@michaels5166]

Shouts out to Lynnae, Harry, Lezly, Bill, Jay/Donna, Crummy,Tanya, and everyone else working hard to keep NYC skating alive..

[@frankmaiorana7324]

Great people. I not only skated there but djayed twice back in da day. Best times ever

[@terry-annrichards6554]

I just got a pair of skates, I pray I can learn to be awesome!

[@pbsvoices]

You got this! there are some good youtube tutorials I was checking out while learning.

[@BaptistJoshua]

What skates did you buy? Any alterations since then? Where do you skate? How is it going? I have not roller skated for years and years. I am trying to find a quality pair of leather skates. I choose gummy wheels so I don't slip or trip on small pebbles. With gummier wheels, you just roll right over them instead of launching into space.😂

[@Harleywayne]

Ahhh, those wooden wheels are gorgeous. I'm lacing up now for a night skate because of this video. 🛼🛼🛼

[@Helmic]

Man, I wonder why the NYPD would harass a bunch of people on roller skates just dancing in public. I'm gonna take a good, long look at the older people in this video who lived through all this and see if I can't come up with some sort of explanation as to what about them set Giuliani off.

[@jahjib2]

He did not like that we were having fun and entertaining the people and they could not turn any revenue on it, we were not there to make money for them, so they tried and FAILED to take it from us. Now they still give lukewarm support, but the CPDSA is there to keep it moving forward. I have skated there since 1979. The one thing we want everyone to know is that this circle is open to anyone who wants to have fun and commune with us is welcome. Open invite to all. I rolled into the frame at 1.30.

[@AzucaNegra16]

Loved this 💜💜💜

[@dennisgarcia-so8wt]

dope video.. i myself have been skating and shooting at all the nyc rinks since may last year..

[@meander112]

Engagement for the engagement god!

[@cynthiaspencer9994]

True. I live in NYS and most rinks closed. There is 1 in Rochester NY and another opened a few years ago. We need more.

[@mikec.8556]

Great lil documentary!

[@RunningDarkMare]

thank YOU!!!! MOST EXCELLENT !!!

[@bfrost7]

interesting series

[@pbsvoices]

Thanks for checking it out

[@chasbeachcomber]

Wonderful video!

[@chicha7880]

LETS GET THESE KIDS ROLLING START YOUNG LET THEM LEARN TO LOVE IT NO TV, NO VIDEO GAMES Just found this and love it. Hope it's still going g strong.

[@glenhuysamer]

Nice.

[@foxgloved8922]

Omg i Wanna do that 0:

[@foxgloved8922]

But im very afraid i will break something lmao

[@samwill7259]

@@foxgloved8922 Helmets! Pads! Don't let your dreams be dreams!

[@jojolorenzo]

First!

[@blablablablavla3021]

♡♡♡

[@teacherman2001]

Going to NYC next week, lets see what happens... ;-)

[@pbsvoices]

Hope you get some good skating in

[@RollsRight8]

[We] Brooklyn Skates lost the spot at Kosciusko St. and are at a public school [at the time of writing].

[@antoinettemartinez5432]

Are they still skating in NY now

[@kibcubed]

I do like me some skate dance, especially after that one Chet Faker video

[@allthingschrisee9350]

I just picked up a pair from a citi trends lol

[@pbsvoices]

they are everywhere right now!

[@antoinettemartinez5432]

Didn't they guy name blady

[@Mrajtheartist]

✨⭐✨💞💖💞💖💞💖💞✨⭐✨

[@tousuexiong9180]

Tawqy

[@litespeedway6538]

👍🏾🌈

[@alylight1899]

Wow, Giuliani was the worst...

[@BaptistJoshua]

Actually, under his admin, NYC was considered the safest it had been in pretty much all of history. I can understand not wanting to hear blaring music when you want to relax in the only woods for miles.

[@freesheep0]

Fruit booters !

[@MelodyLove]

Amazing!!! Thank you so much for showcasing this amazing community 💖🛼🥹