COEUR d’ALENE — It's been many years since Tom Carlson found himself on the dance floor of a high school gymnasium, bound by casts and crutches.

He underwent many surgeries to fight the tuberculosis laced throughout his bones when he was young. Despite the physical setbacks, he still participated in those all-important teenage rites of passage, even if he was sitting on the sidelines.

“I went to a lot of dances in high school even though I had trouble walking," Carlson said.

He credits one of his classmates, a young lady named Barb, for giving him a boost of confidence at a school dance when he was a freshman in 1964.

"She actually grabbed me out of my chair — crutches, cast and all — and took me out on the dance floor," he said. "She pulled me out for a slow dance. I think she knew I wasn't going to be able to rock and roll."

Carlson has dreamed of bringing back that special high school dance feeling and sharing it with others who may never have had the chance to experience it themselves.

On Saturday, that dream is coming true.

Carlson has organized the Sentimental Journey dance, "the dance you never got to in high school," to invite the community to return to the school dance floor and reminisce about the good old days while making new memories across the generations.

Music from the ’40s, ’50s and ’60s combined with old-school dance contests and other fun will be sure to whisk event-goers back to that golden era of music.

"It’s a sentimental journey, a journey back in time to experience the dance you never got to go to in high school," Carlson said.

Local performers Kiara Klinkefus and Casey Weeks will conduct a special dance and interact with guests as they bebop through the dance floor.

The dance will include a spotlight dance and a group sing-along, and two lucky people will be crowned king and queen of the ball.

The dance will go from 7-9 p.m. Saturday in Lutheran Church of the Master's school gym.

Admission is $25 per couple or family and $15 for singles. Proceeds will benefit Lutherhaven Camp scholarships and Lutheran Church of the Master. Tickets can be purchased by calling 635-5128 or 765-1002.

“We’re going to make it a lot of fun for people,” Carlson said. “Come and enjoy some memories."