international news _ 1st June, 2007
Thousands March @ New York's First Dance Parade
Text by Jonty Skrufff (Skrufff.com)
Clubbers and dance enthusiasts braved torrential rain to attend New York's first ever dance parade last weekend, which was created to protest against the City's infamous anti-dance regulations based on the 80 year old Cabaret Laws.
"It's something every culture in New York does," parade organizer Liat Tamam told the Gothamist, "But as of now, every cultur in New York has its own parade," she added,
Though thousands reportedly danced along Broadway Skrufff contributors Larry Tee and Matt Kalkhoff stayed away, Larry as he was 'out of town' and Matt because of the weather.
"I wanted to go, and was planning to do so, until the day of the event. Unfortunately, it was rainy and cold that day, so I skipped it," said Matt, "A few friends were planning to attend with me, but we all agreed that the weather was just not conducive to any outdoor activities that day,” he confessed.
Larry said "I didn't hear of anyone going from my camp" adding "I didn't hear that much about the Dance Parade except that it was more directed at 'dance' as in modern dance, ethnic dance, tap dance, Peruvian dance etc. I was told it wasn’t supposed to be a referendum on the licenses or clubs in New York City but I was out of town and thus, out of the loop".
"New York always has club closings and changes and when things get too rotten on the city, they will move to Brooklyn and that’s what seems to be the trend these days," he suggested.
"There is more space for nightlife in Brooklyn and less police regulating your every move, less bottle service and less security. Nightclubs are supposed to keep changing and closing and opening and moving and making neighbourhoods hot so that they get run out, the cycle of a vibrant city," he said.
Matt (one of New York's key nightlife journalists and gay scene reporters) agreed that few local clubbers are engaged in fighting against the Cabaret Laws, suggesting ‘even though I think everyone agrees it's a ridiculous situation, I guess it just hasn't affected them directly enough (yet!) to prompt much action, at least not as far as the general masses are concerned.
"There are, of course, some very vocal and active groups working very hard to bring attention to the situation, but I'm not really sure how much success they've been having thus far," said Matt.
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