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Bin man 'Ziggy Dust' spins and twirls his way to internet stardom
Tim Stewart, Evening Standard22 Jul 2008
A dancing street sweeper who moves like Michael Jackson has become an internet cult hero.
The bin man spins, slides and twirls his litter stick as he collects rubbish in Chiswick, stopping passers-by in their tracks.
Thousands of people have watched YouTube clips of the self-styled "Ziggy Dust" and residents have raved about him on online forums wondering who he is and what he listens to on his iPod.
Jackie Carr said: "I love the dancing bin man who works in Chiswick High Road. He makes me smile every time I see him." Kieran Loughran said: "The dancing bin man is a breath of fresh air."
It can now be revealed that he is Zbigniew Colbecki, 47, a Pole who came to Britain three years ago. He worked as a watchmaker and a DJ in his home town of Torun, played in a rock band, and performed as a juggler in a circus.
Ziggy said today: "I dance while I am working as it makes it more fun. I love music and dancing. I am used to performing and I get a great reaction from people in Chiswick. Mothers stop with their children and dance with me and one old lady phoned the council to say she wanted to take me for a cup of tea on my break. It is not the most interesting of jobs but I am very happy doing it as I make other people happy and have made lots of friends."
Ziggy says he has more than 1,500 songs on his iPod, adding: "I love any jazzy stuff, Brazilian music, funky house and James Brown. Amy Winehouse is great and I can play Duffy's song Mercy about 50 times a day."
Ziggy insisted he was not trying to imitate-Michael Jackson. He said: "I have always had my own free-style steps. I just improvise, watching my shadow on the pavement and my reflection in the shop windows. It is very tiring because I dance up to seven hours a day six days a week but it is good exercise."
Hounslow council's senior street cleansing supervisor, Marcus Harrison, said: "Ziggy is a wonderful entertainer, who brightens up people's day as well as doing his job blindingly well. It is a pleasure to have him working for us."
