Our inaugural event held Thursday August 9, 2001 at Makor


PROGRAM

FILM: No Dancing Allowed, a documentary by Candace Corelli and Juli Berg

PANEL DISCUSSION
Ethan Brown (New York Magazine), moderator
Robert Bookman (New York Nightlife Association legal counsel)
John Davis (Body & Soul)
Robert Pritchard (Dance Liberation Front)
David Rabin (New York Nightlife Association President)
Philip Rodriguez (Baktun)
Nicky Siano (legendary New York house DJ)
Norman Siegel (former Executive Director, New York Civil Liberties Union)

MUSIC: Nicky Siano, Jeannie Hopper & Ulysses


Since 1997, when New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani created the multi-agency Nightclub Enforcement Task Force to enforce his "Quality of Life" campaign, the city has been waging a war against nightlife culture and industry. As clubs, bars and lounges are fined, padlocked and shut down, citizens are losing places crucial to fostering social interaction, and artists have fewer places to express themselves. Because of this, we feel the city is losing a vital part of its cultural identity and an economic engine that fuels a variety of city businesses. The most lethal weapon in the cityıs arsenal aimed against nightlife are essentially blue laws written in 1926 and rooted in Prohibition-era social paranoia called cabaret laws.

A vast coalition of NYC residents assert that dancing is an inalienable right and that social dancing has no business being regulated by any government agency. We organized NYC: NO DANCING ALLOWED to better understand the history, implementation, and ramifications of these laws and map out a course of action to either amend or repeal New York City's unreasonably prohibitive cabaret laws.

THIS IS WHY IT'S ILLEGAL TO DANCE IN MOST PLACES IN NEW YORK CITY

The city began a system in Prohibition-era 1926 to control entertainment in clubs. All clubs were required to obtain a cabaret license to operate, a labyrinthine process entirely controlled by the city.

The law states that an establishment must be licensed if the club features three or more musicians, or if any of the instruments is percussion or brass, or if there is three or more people moving in synchronized fashion.

In the late eighties, after a five year legal battle on behalf of the Musicians Union led by New York University Law Professor Paul Chevigny, the courts declared the three musician rule unconstitutional and accepted live music in zones where bars and restaurants are permitted. But nothing was done to lift the stigma of dancing.

In his book Gigs: Jazz and the Cabaret Laws in New York City (1991, Routledge), Chevingy writes, "the cabaret laws expressed the view of the NYC lawmakers - rooted ultimately in racism as well as fear of bohemian mores." Simply put the city wanted to have control over the races mingling, something no politician would ever stand in support of today.

Nightclubs are also restricted in zoning, meaning cabaret licenses are only granted to venues in major commercial centers, industrial or manufacturing districts, effectively making it illegal to dance in any residential area. In 1960 there were 12,000 cabaret licenses in the five boroughs. In 2001 there are 296.

The permit process is long, costly and uncertain. Approval is required from the Department of Consumer Affairs, the NYC Planning Commission, the Fire Department, Buildings Departments and local community boards, among others, all of whom work independently from each other.

In 1997 Rudy Guiliani created the multi-agency Nightclub Enforcement Task Force to crack down on clubs as part of his "Quality of Life" campaign. Deputy Mayor Rudy Washington goes on the record stating, "We've been closing down these little buckets of blood (nightclubs) for about three years and paralyzing them." Coney Island High, Baby Jupiter, Hogs & Heifers, Vain, Rivertown Lounge, No Moore, Knitting Factory and Lakeside Lounge are just a few of the places that have been fined or padlocked for illegal dancing.

A survey sponsored by the New York Nightlife Association and conducted by Audience Research and Analysis reports that approximately 24.3 million people come to New York City's music and dance clubs per year, exceeding the combined attendance of Broadway theaters, city sports teams, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Empire State Building, while contributing $2.9 billion to the city's economy and providing over 27,000 jobs.

Although there are currently over 5,000 liquor licenses in the five boroughs you can only dance in 296 places. You are not allowed to dance to the jukebox or DJ at your local bar. You are not allowed to move to the rock band or jazz act at your neighborhood club.

Social dancing is not a safety issue. This does not mean we don't support strict compliance with all fire safety codes, capacity numbers, noise ordinances, alcohol and drug laws, only that the act of dancing never be restrained in any manner.

MISHPUCHA is a not-for-profit music industry community of 120 record label people, artists, DJs, promoters, managers and writers who champion innovative music and encourage music activism from the music industry.

NYC: NO DANCING ALLOWED was produced by Andy Gensler and Adam Shore and Mishpucha.

To continue to receive information about our efforts, or to join the team, please contact:

ADAM SHORE

ANDY GENSLER