06 Oct
by Derrick Vander Waal
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – Magician David Hira instantly fell in love with magic and theater when he saw his first live magician as a child at a car show at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – Magician David Hira instantly fell in love with magic and theater when he saw his first live magician as a child at a car show at McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago.
That stirred in him the desire to begin performing his own shows when he was in junior high while growing in the suburbs of Chicago.
 |
| Magician David Hira will dazzle and inspire the crowd at Promise Community Health Center’s eighth annual “An Evening of Promise” on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center. |
As he developed as a performer and magician, he was inspired by watching master magicians Mark Wilson and David Copper on television.
“I began to see that their magic was more than simple entertainment. It could be a way of inspiring people that anything is possible,” Hira said. “I love to show people how they have the same ability in their lives as I do as a magician. We all can strive to find ways to do things instead of reasons we can’t.”
He’s still doing that decades later at 55 years old.
Hira, who lives in Dallas, TX, and has ties to northwest Iowa, hopes to bring that same sense of inspiration to the audience at Promise Community Health Center’s eighth annual “An Evening of Promise” Celebration and Fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center.
Hira has traveled the world to perform at venues ranging from Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas to his most recent venture on a cruise ship departing from Rome into the Mediterranean Sea, but his performance in Sioux Center will not be just any performance. It will be extra special – a homecoming of sorts for him.
He has many fond memories of spending time as a child on the rural Rock Valley farm of his grandparents, Ted and Francis Kooima. His mom, LaVonne, grew up as one of seven children along with Lloyd, Marilyn, Linda, Lyle, Roger and Carol, so he also had various aunts, uncles and cousins living in northwest Iowa – with his family tree branching out in many directions from there in the area. In fact, his relatives established the Kooima Co. and various other businesses in the Rock Valley area.
 |
| David Hira has traveled the world during the past few decades to entertain audiences with his magic, but he’s just as excited to return to northwest Iowa, a place where he has family roots, to perform Nov. 3 for Promise CHC’s “An Evening of Promise” in Sioux Center. |
“I was so excited to have been contacted for this event,” Hira said. “I am thrilled to be returning to this part of the country.”
As his love for magic was revealed in junior high, Hira was lucky to have another magician in his school, David Howard, who was a year younger and had a twin sister. Their mother owned a dance studio.
“By combining forces with David, we wound up getting the support of his parents who were able to give us a lot of star power with dancers, costumes and bigger props,” he said. “It was a really fun time.”
By the eighth grade, Hira had decided that he wanted to take Johnny Carson’s place one day. Johnny, the iconic host of “The Tonight Show” for 30 years, had started out as a magician, as did many other TV celebrities. Though the job ultimately went to Jay Leno, the dream was enough to propel Hira in the right direction.
“Magic gave them all the foundation to perform in front of people, all kinds of people, and in all kinds of situations,” he said. “This experience gives us the chops to move onto bigger things. But for me? I was content to just make people laugh, wonder and to say, ‘Wow!’”
Hira was able to make money in high school and college as a magician. It was a “great perk” having people pay him to have fun, he acknowledged.
His career progressed from there.
“Like with most things, the more you do it, the better you get – the more that those who really do know what they are doing seek you out and help you,” he said. “That was the case for me. Because of the people who helped me and who wanted to see me succeed, my skills increased and allowed me to travel the world and meet people I never dreamed of meeting.”
 |
| In addition to a stage show, magician David Hira will present roving entertainment during the social time of Promise Community Health Center’s annual “An Evening of Promise” on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center. |
Throughout the years, Hira has appeared in 44 states across America and in a host of other countries, including Puerto Rico, Mexico, New Zealand, Australia, Spain, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Japan, Canada and Costa Rica. He has performed on cruise ships in beautiful places such as off as the coast of Alaska and in the Mediterranean Sea. Next year, he is booked for a luxurious cruise ship that leaves out of Rio De Janeiro and goes up the entire coast of South America, down the Amazon and winds up in Barbados. His wife, Angela, is excited to be accompanying him for that trip.
Hira said he’s trying to slow down but “not succeeding very well.” In 2014, he performed or was the keynote speaker at 417 events in 17 states and five countries. His goal was not to perform at more than 300 events in 2015, but he well exceeded that number.
“I can’t wait for the chance to brag to people that I performed in Sioux Center, Iowa,” he said with a grin.
One of his most rewarding gigs is as the CFO (chief fun officer) for Snowball Express. For the past six years, he has coordinated the fun for children of fallen military personnel who were serving active duty since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Each December, they bring in 2,000 children and their surviving parent to Dallas to give them a four-day Christmas that “they’ll never forget.” As the face of the event, Hira plays host and master of ceremonies for the shows that he produces for the children.
“Snowball Express is simply the hands of a grateful nation that lets these families know that this nation will never forget their hero, nor their families’ sacrifices,” he said. “I’m happy to give these families my best because each of these families gave us, their country, their very best.”
 |
| David Hira, a magician/comedian from Dallas, TX, will have all kinds of entertaining acts up his sleeve to reveal to the audience during his performance at “An Evening of Promise” on Thursday, Nov. 3. |
Before Hira arrives for any performance anywhere he goes, he has already decided that he’s going to have the time of his life and that he loves each and every person in attendance. He considers each audience member to be a work of art; therefore, walking among the guests at the event is like walking through “the most incredible art museum.”
“To be in awe of others is to honor their creator,” he added.
In fact, Hira considers the chance to be around wonderful people – people he had not yet met – to be like magic to him. He remembers that thought as he astonishes people with his magic during his performances.
“People scratch their heads, pause in disbelief, and say, ‘How is that possible?’” Hira said. “To which I turn the mirror and on each individual, each audience member, and say, ‘How are you possible?’ We are all miracles. Our existence for even a minute is impossible when you start to examine our physical beings – for our hearts to beat, for our blood to flow, for our skin to work to keep our bodies a constant temperature. And all at the same time? Impossible. As a magician, I get to have people realize that it’s not just the magicians that seemingly do the impossible. We are all impossible, and yet we exist and live and share and dream.”
As he entertains, he gives the gift of laughter.
“What is more enjoyable than getting to watch someone laugh? I mean, really laugh,” he said. “I’m fortunate to get to see people’s eyes and faces from where I stand on the stage. People think that the magic is in watching what I do. No, no, no! The magic is watching what is evoked from inside of you, the smiles and the laughter from what it is that I get to do.”
Hira also will weave his fond memories of northwest Iowa into his “An Evening of Promise” performance in Sioux Center.
“To quote Judy Garland, ‘There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home,’” he said. “Most all people love to reconnect with their roots, their good memories and the land upon with they grew up on. I’m looking forward to being restored and re-energized by returning to your corner of the world.”
Promise Community Health Center of Sioux Center is the only Federally Qualified Health Center serving the far northwest corner of Iowa. Promise provides medical, dental, prenatal and behavioral health services. To learn more, visit www.promisechc.org and watch this video.
MORE ABOUT DAVID HIRA:
David Hira and his wife, Angela, have three married children, Amy, Michael and Eric, and a 2-year-old grandson, Ezra. He is a foodie and loves to try all kinds of food adventures. His hobby is Costa Rica “in all ways.” His favorite thing to do is to encourage others in any way that he can.
WHY ATTEND HIS SHOW?
David Hira said his performance will be much more than a magic show.
“If you love to laugh, love to be reminded of how wonderful the human spirit is, if joy and astonishment and the fun of a good surprise is something that you crave, then this show is for you,” he said. “We’ll have so much fun together that those who come will leave saying, ‘Wow, now this was worth my time. I’m so glad I came.’ You’ll be amazed.”
‘AN EVENING OF PROMISE”:
Promise Community Health Center will present its eighth annual “An Evening of Promise” Celebration and Fundraiser on Thursday, Nov. 3, at Terrace View Event Center in Sioux Center.
The event, which serves as Promise’s primary fundraiser every year, will begin at 6 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
The evening will feature:
- Entertainment by David Hira, a magician and comedian from Dallas, TX;
- Dinner catered by Blue Mountain Culinary Emporium of Orange City;
- Presentation of the Addink Community Service Award;
- Silent auction to support Promise.
Ticket sales for “An Evening of Promise” will run through Oct. 26.
Tickets are $40 for adults, $20 for youth ages 4-17 and free for children 3 and under. They can be purchased online at www.promiseevent2016.eventbrite.com or in person at Promise CHC, 338 1st Ave. NW, Sioux Center. For more information or to request a paper ticket form, please contact Derrick Vander Waal at 712-722-1700 Ext. 150 or derrick@promisechc.org. A ticket form also is available at this link.
To learn more about the event, read this preview story.
