He was the ultimate influencer — born 100 years too soon
LOS ANGELES — Vito Paulekas was a freak. He was also a painter, a sculptor, a marathon dancer, a felon, an enthusiastic devotee of free love and a civic leader. He enlightened many, infuriated others and was the sort of influencer who would have blown up on TikTok and Instagram. Too bad he was born about 100 years too soon.
In the 1960s, Paulekas helped change the way a generation danced by eschewing rigid norms of partner-focused choreographed steps that had dominated Western cultures for centuries. If you've ever been to a Grateful Dead show or seen the "Woodstock" movie, you'll find ample evidence of his impact.
Paulekas viewed dance as a form of self-expression whose movements should be determined solely by how the music's beat makes you feel, and he led a ragtag troupe of young dancers (known as the Freaks) into clubs around L.A. They never had to buy tickets — Vito's dancers were VIPs at all the happening spots on the Sunset Strip. The club owners' mantra was fueled by simple economics: If the Freaks were making the scene, crowds would follow.
David Crosby, a founding member of the Byrds, says the Freaks "helped spread the vibe" about the band, adding, "They were our first fans." When the Bryds needed a place to rehearse, Paulekas let them use his basement. "He became sort of a friend," Crosby, who is now 80, recalls. "He was a loose screw but a good guy and … definitely different."
Paulekas was easy to spot in the
