“Aren’t you a bit old to be here?”
That was the question – or for him, the statement –
that greeted me in the early hours of a recent Saturday morning on one of our
local dance floors. I must admit, I gave this twink the look of death to show
my indifference to his perception.
I mean, since when have we, as a community, even given
contemplation to this idea, that age deems us no longer a spot on the
dancefloor? Surely it’s a place of joy and escape, a place to let your hair
down, and to be yourself – no matter your age.
I’ve been around many years and I know the sense of
celebration dance floors at big parties like Mardi Gras brings. It’s always
been where our tribes, of all ages, share their place in our community, our
family.
Some people of my vintage no longer take the plunge by
choice, but I know they will agree that if we want, we will dance until we
drop. The way our tribes come together and share these spaces is a Sydney
phenomenon. Many visitors remark they don’t see this camaraderie elsewhere,
which many of those who went before us worked so hard to establish and
nurture.
For me it’s been a place where magic has happened and
where memories of our shared social history have been created.
We used to have a very talented and avant-garde DJ,
Bill Morley, who at the Sleaze Ball 1987 played The Blue Danube waltz by
Strauss in its entirety. It must have gone on for ten minutes. I remember
everyone being shocked at first, but slowly we all went with it and couples
began to dance their version of a waltz. I will always remember a leatherman in
full regalia including dark glass, tapping me on the shoulder and taking me off
for a spin.
DJ Rob Davis |
DJ Rob Davis recalls one of his magic moments: “At the
1990 Mardi Gras, the Government Pavilion had to be evacuated due to a guy
climbing the girders. After, for my first song, I played ‘Free Nelson Mandela’
by The Specials and everyone went mental because it was just after he’d been
released from prison. It was a big moment for everybody, because we were all
celebrating, and sharing with him in that common experience of having overcome
oppression. And we were all in costumes and dancing with our friends. That
track, at that moment, rocketed everybody back into party mode, it was magic.”
At Sleaze Ball 1995, our wonderful DJ Dean Essing, who
was at the top of his game then, dropped a new remix version of the Love Boat
theme in his closing set. Amidstt a whole lot of late night soulful tunes, that
was about as camp as it could get. The crowd were so up for it that morning,
the roof of the RHI nearly took off. At a recovery party the next evening I had
a drink with Dean and his partner Les, and heard of the angst he had suffered
all week over the decision to play it. No need to worry – that track became the
song of summer 1996 and that moment became dance floor legend.
DJ Kitty Glitter agrees that when magic happens on the
dance floor and the crowd is up for a great time, you can pick up on it – even
feel the love.
"When they hear
a song that they’re loving at the time, they sure let you know,” Kitty
said.
Playing a five-hour set at Montreal Pride in 2014
Kitty had everyone with their arms in the air swaying to Queens ‘We Are The
Champions’.
“Seeing that many people at that moment united and
full of pride was electrifying – I felt like Freddie Mercury,” Kitty said.
Maybe the dance floors of the local clubs are the
domain of the regular Saturday night kids, but take yourself to any of the
one-off dance events and I see a bit of everybody. Some local promoters target
an older crowd and are doing very well in filling their spaces.
After touring overseas most of last year, Kitty
agrees.
“Dance floors are the same all over the world these
days, comfortably mixed, with punters of all ages. People don’t want to stop
dancing as long as they are having fun.”
So as the local celebration season kicks off and were
all planning our diaries, I say make room kids, were coming with our well worn
suite of unauthorised steps.
We can all share in the magic!
DJ Kitty Glitter |
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