A mystery no more, street dancer Joel Joseph wows Staten Island dance class

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- He grooves on street corners, down sidewalks, and in the food court of the Staten Island Mall. But yesterday, Staten Island's mysterious dancer showed off his popular moves in a more traditional spot -- a dance studio. "I dance because I love to feel good," Joel Joseph, 24, said. "I love to express myself. I love to inspire others as well."
Yes, the Staten Island mystery dancer -- the focus of a Facebook page with more than 4,500 "likes" -- has a name. It's Joel, but he just goes by Joe. Joe the Dancing Guy.
His moves have caught the eye of many a pedestrian and driver, delighting, and sometimes perplexing them with his hybrid of jogging and dancing. Tall and lean, sporting sunglasses and wearing headphones, he has been caught on video by adoring fans.
So when Donny "D-Fine" Brandefine spotted him walking down Hylan Boulevard, he just had to pull over the car.
"I became a fan of the page a while ago, and I just wanted to know more about him," said Brandefine, a personal trainer and instructor at Brandy's Dance Unique.
Their conversation led to Joseph assisting Brandefine yesterday at the studio for a "Textercise" class -- that's exercising and texting. Joseph signed autographs and showed off his skills for an adoring group of girls.
Joseph is from East Flatbush, where he said he doesn't do much dancing.
"I live in a negative environment. People are very judgmental and nasty," he said. "That's why I travel, to get away from the negativity."
Joseph takes the bus over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge -- though he longs for a pedestrian walkway. He dances in other boroughs, other cities and states, even, but he has a soft spot for Staten Island.
"I come out here because the people are friendly," he said.

Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimoBrooklynite Joseph feels at home on Staten Island.

Joseph said he has always loved jogging long distances and dancing.
"After a while I figured, why can't I jog and dance at the same time?" he said.
So that's what he does every day -- with his headphones blasting Taio Cruz, Lady Gaga, and salsa music.
At the dance studio yesterday, he and Brandefine worked out with a group of girls who held their cell phones in their hands. They had to text Brandefine a sentence before they could stop a certain exercise. The goal, in addition to staying in shape, was to help illustrate why people should not text and drive at the same time, Brandefine said.

Staten Island's dancing man spotted in Staten Island Mall Readers shoot video of growing celebrity working his way through center court Watch video

Brandefine also turned Joseph's moves into an exercise -- "The Staten Island Cardio."
"It's obviously a good workout," Brandefine said. "I don't think he has an ounce of fat on him."
Joseph said he wanted to thank his fans for posting the videos of him online. He hoped they might lead to an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres or Wendy Williams shows.
He was glad, finally, to have a chance to get his message out -- be yourself and do what you love.
"They shouldn't have to be ashamed to be themselves. Just go for it," he said. "It's your life. If you want to do what you want to do, do it."
Joseph launched his own Facebook page, under the name "JOE The Dancing Guy." He's also slated to make an appearance at the finale of the Brandy's Dance Unique recital Saturday night at the College of Staten Island.