For 90 years, New York City, the great metropolis that hosts one of the most progressive governments in the nation and is arguably the most influential center for dance culture on Earth, has again and again turned a blind eye to it's unique, absurd and bigoted Cabaret (No Dancing) Law. Please join us in collaboration with the New York City Artist Coalition and Commend in telling the Department of Cultural Affairs and thus the Government of NYC to repeal this antiquated, racist and hypocritical r...
For 90 years, New York City, the great metropolis that hosts one of the most progressive governments in the nation and is arguably the most influential center for dance culture on Earth, has again and again turned a blind eye to it's unique, absurd and bigoted Cabaret (No Dancing) Law. Please join us in collaboration with the New York City Artist Coalition and Commend in telling the Department of Cultural Affairs and thus the Government of NYC to repeal this antiquated, racist and hypocritical regulation once and for all at this historic Town Hall Meeting.
The New York City Cabaret (No Dancing) Law is an actively-enforced dancing ban originally enacted in 1926 during Prohibition in the United States with the intent of breaking up African American Jazz clubs. It was initially bundled with a multitude of regulations, including the banning of saxophones (and other instruments regarded as “black”) in unlicensed venues, the Three Musician Rule and the New York City Cabaret Card program. The No Dancing regulation refers to the prohibition of dancing in all NYC spaces open to the public that sell food and/or drink with the exception of those who obtain a cabaret license.
According to New York City Department of Consumer Affairs:
“A Cabaret License is required for any business that sells food and/or beverages to the public and allows patron dancing in a room, place, or space.”
The problem is, in nearly all cases, the required license is literally impossible to obtain, which pragmatically speaking, outlaws dancing within the city. As of 2016, the Department of Consumer Affairs in New York City claimed there were currently 118 cabaret licenses in a city with over 25,000 bars and restaurants. That means that less than half of .01% of NYC establishments can legally allow dancing. This is a DANCE BAN.
Dance is the art of movement. It predates written language and humanity itself. A government cannot simultaneously praise culture, art, expression or freedom and support any variation of a dance ban. This is hipocrisy at best and racist authoritarianism at worst and we are here to shine a light on it.
Please join us, Dance Liberation Network, as we voice our opposition to this law. Commisioner Tom Finkelpearl of Cultural Affairs will be attending with the intention of understanding opinions on a number of noble and relevant subjects put forth by our friends at the NYC Artist Coalition. Please understand that this is a Town Hall Meeting, a friendly socio political engagement and not a protest or a party. Please respect Mr. Finkelpearl, Market Hotel, and the greater Bushwick Community and never stop fighting to make our city's future brighter.
This event is the first in a series of community oriented engagements organized by our friends at Commend. In addition to the repeal of Cabaret Law, commisioner Finkelpearl will also be listening to the NYC Artist Coalition's reccomendations for the CreateNYC Cultural Plan including expansion of the Loft Law, Transparency of MARCH program and the establishment of an Urgent Repairs Fund, amongst others.
Event starts at 7pm. Capacity will be limited. Don't be late! Accommodations can be made for those with limited mobility.
sign the petition at:
danceliberationnetwork.com
nycartc.com
nyc.gov/culture
http://www.commendnyc.com
