Sophomore Dante Coiro has found a unique new way to connect with long-time friends and school faculty: magic.
“It was about a little bit more than a year ago I began [learning] magic. I was always fascinated by how magicians could just manipulate these cards in a way that looks so real,” Coiro said.
Coiro specifically has a love for the art of illusion.
“I started with, like, basic tricks. And even the basic ones I was mesmerized by. And then what really stuck [on] me to continue magic [was] because if you just do it for a week or two, [you’re] not going to get anywhere,” Coira said. For Coiro, it was the rhythm and the repetition of the tricks that attracted him.
“All the sleight of hand, combined through these, like, really, immaculate tricks, that’s how at first… where I had this fascination,” he said.
And Coiro didn’t get bored, despite the repetition.
“Each move and trick, you couldn’t just get down in one day. It required weeks of continuous practice. Not like hard practice, but just continuous repetition, which may turn off a lot of people magic, but to me, I like to rhythm in repetition because it gives me something to do.”
Magic isn’t just a pastime for Coiro, it’s also a way for him to express himself.
“It gives me a way to talk to people, to communicate, to start a conversation, I’ve made a lot of new friends with magic and I feel like I’ve become more social,” Coiro said.
Though his sleight of hand looks effortless, Coiro puts a lot of work in to make every gesture and misdirection seem that way.
“I practice everyday, over and over, I get a little better each time,” Coiro said.
His favorite card brand, Cherry Casino, in hand, Coiro describes his favorite magic trick, which he calls “Ash on Hand.”
“They hold my arm then they pick a card, any card, and make sure I don’t see it. Then I guess the card and they lift off their hand and see that their card is inscribed into my arm,” Coiro said. “I love it when they try to figure out how I did it and they can’t seem to understand.”
Recently, Coiro has added new skills to his routine. Eventually he plans to integrate fire into his favorite “Ash on Hand.”
“I’m a very hands-on person. I enjoy creating, like devices and machines, some of which I use with my magic. I create machines to assist me with certain tricks,” he said.
Coiro calls it “a voodoo machinery.”
“I can shoot a fire now, I can make cards appear with my fire, I can, you know, do whatever I want now with fire,” he said.
Can you guess how the trick is done?
He performed his signature trick, “Ash on Hand,” for his history teacher, Hilary Allen.
“I was very impressed; I had no idea what was happening,” Allen said. “I’m glad he found something he enjoys to do and he makes his classmates laugh.”
Born in New Jersey before moving to Peachtree City when he was in the third grade, Coiro stays busy as an active member of the MHS STEM program and Trinity Catholic Church. In his free time, he boxes at 4th Corner Boxing Gym, hanging out with friends, and enjoys trading limited items on Roblox.
