Street dancer mistaken for mime

BUFFALO GROVE, Ill., Nov. 3 (UPI) -- An Illinois man who dressed up in tribute to his favorite hip-hop dance crew was asked to stop by police who said some "find mimes disconcerting."

Sorin Dumitru, 19, who is from Romania and lives in Buffalo Grove, said he donned white gloves and a white mask for his street dancing Tuesday in tribute to San Diego dance group Jabbawockeez, which won the first season of "America's Best Dance Crew" in 2008, the Chicago Tribune reported Thursday.

Police arrived at about 5:30 p.m. and told him they had been called by concerned residents who were not used to seeing street dancers in the residential area. Some of the callers had mistaken him for a mime due to his garb and officers said "some residents apparently find mimes disconcerting."

"He could have stayed, but more than likely we would have been deluged with phone calls," Cmdr. Jim Newton said. "We didn't force him to leave."

Dumitru said he agreed to stop his performance, but he is still planning to dance on the sidewalks provided he can get out earlier in the day.

"I enjoy myself and the people who walk around and see me enjoy it," he said. "I like dancing very much and it was relaxing time after work."