How could anyone let the art of roller skating die? It’s the perfect love triangle between cardio, disco, and nostalgic opulence. It’s been there for weekend family adventures, your first date with your seventh grade crush, and West Side Story-esque skate battles of epic proportions.
Despite its endangerment from today’s culture, roller skating is experiencing a resurgence underground amongst African American communities. United Skates brings you the history of how roller rinks used to serve as a haven for African American music and culture and how many are fighting to keep this environment alive. The artform served as a way for folks to practice personal expression, creative collaboration, and competition. United Skates emphasizes that these rinks weren’t just for entertainment, but a form of community engagement amongst black teens.
If you’re inspired to roll around a rink after watching this film, you should follow us to Skate Night at Butler Skateland for an evening of adult rollerskating. We'll be providing a free shuttle bus to get you the easy, breezy 13 miles to roller skating paradise.
Tickets are no longer available online for today's 4:30 PM screening of United Skates, but can be purchased at any of our box office locations!
Audrey Moore, Marketing Assistant extraordinaire, will be writing the daily festival blogs each day this year. Welcome, Audrey!
Posted by: Tom Fuchs