International Dinkles Day Announced for August 25, 2011

Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Shoe That Defined Marching Mount Joy, Pa. — There are official days for just about every item under the sun, and now the marching shoes that make great performances possible have their own day. Aug. 25 has been dedicated as International Dinkles Day. August 25, 2011 has additional meaning this year as it marks the official celebration of the 25th anniversary of the introduction of the Vanguard, the first leather shoe ever designed with a flat sole specifically for marching. Jeff Savoca, president of Up-Front Footwear, makers of Dinkles Marching Shoes, said in announcing International Dinkles Day, “Thousands of performers around the world march, play, dance and sing in their Dinkles every year. We’re especially proud, in this our 25th anniversary, to select one day to celebrate the shoe that has become the standard of excellence in the marching activity.” Savoca added, “25 years ago, my father, and Dinkles founder, Jerry Savoca, combined the craftsmanship of old-world shoe making with marching band to create a shoe that defined an entire industry. We’re proud that now we can salute our entire line of shoes and Harry Dinkle, with a special annual celebration each Aug. 25!” Aug. 25 was selected as International Dinkles Day, reflecting the numbers “eight-to-five” which is the calculation of the number of steps (eight) to march five yards. In basic marching training for middle school and high school students, hundreds of hours are spent each year practicing “8-to-5’s” in physical training and body warm-ups preparing to march in parades, halftime shows, competitions and special pageantry performances around the world. We salute these marchers with their own day every year, Aug. 25,” added Savoca. International Dinkles Day will be an opportunity for individual marchers, marching bands, drum and bugle corps and other pageantry groups around the world to interact with Dinkles via the Internet and all other media outlets. Current and alumni marchers are encouraged to send in photos, videos and essays of what their Dinkles means to them. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative, exciting and unique presentations to share what the tradition of Dinkles means to band members who have marched in their shoes from 1986 through 2011.





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