Ozark Profile: Dancer has fun while bringing in business

FAYETTEVILLE — When you see her, the first instinct might be to laugh. Or honk. But don't worry, Sandra Barth doesn't mind either way.

In fact, getting a reaction - any reaction - is the main point.

Barth is not unlike many people these days. A 39-year-old California native who made her way to Fayetteville five years ago, she's hard at work trying to finish up school and put a little change in her pocket in the process. But it's how she's putting that money in her pockets that has folks around town asking "Who is this woman?"

To her family and friends, she's Sandra. To you, the better description might be the dancing Diner Dash lady. And that's exactly who Barth is, strutting her stuff in front of the carryout restaurant on Wedington Drive whenever possible.

That's right, the one grooving to her own beat out on the corner of the street is Barth. And make no mistake, she loves doing every second of her dancing routine.

"I listen to house, techo; I listen to funk - just all kinds of music," Barth said. "And the main one is disco because that seems to get the most attention.

"I was raised in the '70s, and my family, we're all a bunch of dancers. So I'm just keeping Fayetteville funky and beautiful, just like that sticker says."

While Barth has grabbed attention and heard plenty of car honks since being hired in May by owners Tommy and Nikki Golden to dance for Diner Dash, what folks might not realize is this is just the latest in an already impressive list of dancing-for-businesses career.

First there was Liberty Tax Services, who hired Barth as the Statue of Liberty.

Then there was World Gym, who got Barth to dance as the mascot gorilla. And last but not least, there was Take Two Video, which dressed Barth up as Disney's Esmeralda to attract business.

And while it's more fun than anything, Barth knows she's being hired for a reason and that's to draw attention to these stores.

"When I got hired at World Gym, the boss already knew I was dancing," Barth said. "But they wanted me because they said I was unique, and they liked me because other people couldn't do what I do.

"I guess they thought it just has a way of bringing out the business."

Barth's dancing came about while working as the Statue of Liberty.

Tired of just standing and waving to passing cars, she decided one day to bring along a boom box and dance to the beat.

And the rest is history.

"There's so many people in the state of California that nobody gets recognized," Barth said. "So I never really thought that I had anything until I came out here to Fayetteville.

But here I was able to do my thing, and apparently people liked it and I just rode with it.

"Basically what I do out here, it's just so much fun to me. I have so much fun with it."

And now Barth has plans. Currently she's working on her GED at the Fayetteville Adult Education Center. After she completes that program, there's a goal to attend the University of Arkansas and study - what else? - theater.

"I'm 39, and even when I can't do this anymore, I've got a plan for my own company," Barth said. "I want to start a company, and I've already got the name of it in my head. It's going to be called Gotta Love The Mascots."

For now, though, Barth is going to keep dancing the days away. Whether it be as the Diner Dash chef, a World Gym gorilla or Esmeralda, this is one funky woman with a unique beat all her own.

"The main thing I would want to tell everybody from this is that I love all my fans," Barth said. "I love everybody who honks and does all that stuff. They're the ones who make me go, and if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be where I'm at right now."