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Legalize Dance in New York City, Feb. 9, 2007
January 30, 2007 - 12:29pm -- autonomedia
yana writes:
Legalize Dance in New York City
Feb. 9, 2007
On Feb 9–10, 2007 Metropolis in Motion is creating a 24-hour Dance Marathon to raise awareness about Cabaret Laws.
Check out web site: here>
Metropolis in Motion was founded in 2006 by New York City residents who believe that our right to dance should not be restricted.
Ever since NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani created the Nightclub Enforcement Task Force in 1997 to enact his "Quality of Life" campaign, the city has been waging a war against nightlife culture and industry. The most lethal weapon in the city's arsenal aimed against nightlife are Prohibition-era laws known as the "Cabaret Laws".
As clubs, bars and lounges are fined, padlocked and shut down, citizens lose places that foster social interaction and artists have fewer places to express themselves. The city is losing a vital part of its cultural identity and an economic engine that fuels a variety of city businesses.
We are fighting to legalize dancing in New York because:
— Dance is a key form of human expression and should be protected under our constitutional right to freedom of expression
— The cabaret laws are archaic and have racist origins — they were originally a prohibition-era response to interracial mixing through social dance
— The cabaret laws are redundant — stringent ordinances are already in place to govern noise, alcohol, and crowd density
— The cabaret laws are bad for business – it is difficult for small venue owners to acquire dancing licenses and small venues are unfairly penalized for patron dancing
Metropolis in Motion and Legalize Dancing NYC
In 2001, a group of concerned New Yorkers organized NYC: No Dancing Allowed, which later became Legalize Dancing NYC. Legalize Dancing worked for several years to raise awareness of this issue and studied ways to either amend or repeal NYC's cabaret laws. In 2006, a separate group of NYC residents formed Metropolis in Motion to bring new attention and energy to this issue. Now, Metropolis in Motion and Legalize Dancing have joined forces to fight NYC's cabaret laws.
Our unique event will be taking place outside on a cold winter's night in the middle of February to give support to a topic that is very close to our hearts: the reform of the city's Cabaret Laws. To us, Dancing is NOT a Crime — yet to New York City, dancing has been a crime since 1926.
In Spring 2005, NYU law professor and author Paul Chevigny and former head of the NYCLU Norman Siegel brought a suit against New York State asserting that dancing is a First Amendment form of protected expression. The case was dismissed but an appeal will be held in the NYS Appellate Court located at 27 Madison Avenue beginning February 1, 2007.
In support of this appeal, Metropolis in Motion will host a 24-hour Dance Marathon from Noon – Noon from Friday, February 9 to Saturday, February 10, 2007.
From Noon – 2:00 PM on Saturday, we will hold a large Dance Party/Rally to wrap up; both events will be by Madison Square Park.
— There is growing momentum for reform of the Cabaret Laws. City Council member Alan Gerson is spearheading efforts in City Council. The fight for our freedom to dance will continue to unfold in the months ahead.
— Nightlife issues in New York. Whether complaints of noise at Heathers in the East Village or the closing of clubs in properly zoned areas like the 27th Street corridor, New York is experiencing burgeoning problems in regards to nightlife.
— New York has the opportunity to lead the nation in protecting social dance as a First Amendment protected form of free expression.
— Adam Goldstone, DJ, Former TONY clubs editor, and NYC nightlife icon passed away earlier this fall. His friends at Metropolis in Motion keep his spirit close to their hearts and share his vision that dancing is not a crime.
— Dancing all night, in the cold? Are these people crazy... or are these people dedicated to protecting dance as an expression of free speech?
— A variety of dance groups will be joining the Dance Marathon. This event represents a coming together of diverse dance communities. There is still room for more groups, and we welcome your help bringing dance groups into the fold. (More infohere.
Spokespersons from Metropolis in Motion are available for interviews and more background information. They are:
Julie Ziff Sint: 610-704-8293
jewels@metropolisinmotion.org
John McGarvey: 917-572-0206
mj@metropolisinmotion.org
Stefanie Jones: 212-613-8047
stefanie@metropolisinmotion.org
yana writes:
Legalize Dance in New York City
Feb. 9, 2007
On Feb 9–10, 2007 Metropolis in Motion is creating a 24-hour Dance Marathon to raise awareness about Cabaret Laws.
Check out web site: here>
Metropolis in Motion was founded in 2006 by New York City residents who believe that our right to dance should not be restricted.
Ever since NYC Mayor Rudolph Giuliani created the Nightclub Enforcement Task Force in 1997 to enact his "Quality of Life" campaign, the city has been waging a war against nightlife culture and industry. The most lethal weapon in the city's arsenal aimed against nightlife are Prohibition-era laws known as the "Cabaret Laws".
As clubs, bars and lounges are fined, padlocked and shut down, citizens lose places that foster social interaction and artists have fewer places to express themselves. The city is losing a vital part of its cultural identity and an economic engine that fuels a variety of city businesses.
We are fighting to legalize dancing in New York because:
— Dance is a key form of human expression and should be protected under our constitutional right to freedom of expression
— The cabaret laws are archaic and have racist origins — they were originally a prohibition-era response to interracial mixing through social dance
— The cabaret laws are redundant — stringent ordinances are already in place to govern noise, alcohol, and crowd density
— The cabaret laws are bad for business – it is difficult for small venue owners to acquire dancing licenses and small venues are unfairly penalized for patron dancing
Metropolis in Motion and Legalize Dancing NYC
In 2001, a group of concerned New Yorkers organized NYC: No Dancing Allowed, which later became Legalize Dancing NYC. Legalize Dancing worked for several years to raise awareness of this issue and studied ways to either amend or repeal NYC's cabaret laws. In 2006, a separate group of NYC residents formed Metropolis in Motion to bring new attention and energy to this issue. Now, Metropolis in Motion and Legalize Dancing have joined forces to fight NYC's cabaret laws.
Our unique event will be taking place outside on a cold winter's night in the middle of February to give support to a topic that is very close to our hearts: the reform of the city's Cabaret Laws. To us, Dancing is NOT a Crime — yet to New York City, dancing has been a crime since 1926.
In Spring 2005, NYU law professor and author Paul Chevigny and former head of the NYCLU Norman Siegel brought a suit against New York State asserting that dancing is a First Amendment form of protected expression. The case was dismissed but an appeal will be held in the NYS Appellate Court located at 27 Madison Avenue beginning February 1, 2007.
In support of this appeal, Metropolis in Motion will host a 24-hour Dance Marathon from Noon – Noon from Friday, February 9 to Saturday, February 10, 2007.
From Noon – 2:00 PM on Saturday, we will hold a large Dance Party/Rally to wrap up; both events will be by Madison Square Park.
— There is growing momentum for reform of the Cabaret Laws. City Council member Alan Gerson is spearheading efforts in City Council. The fight for our freedom to dance will continue to unfold in the months ahead.
— Nightlife issues in New York. Whether complaints of noise at Heathers in the East Village or the closing of clubs in properly zoned areas like the 27th Street corridor, New York is experiencing burgeoning problems in regards to nightlife.
— New York has the opportunity to lead the nation in protecting social dance as a First Amendment protected form of free expression.
— Adam Goldstone, DJ, Former TONY clubs editor, and NYC nightlife icon passed away earlier this fall. His friends at Metropolis in Motion keep his spirit close to their hearts and share his vision that dancing is not a crime.
— Dancing all night, in the cold? Are these people crazy... or are these people dedicated to protecting dance as an expression of free speech?
— A variety of dance groups will be joining the Dance Marathon. This event represents a coming together of diverse dance communities. There is still room for more groups, and we welcome your help bringing dance groups into the fold. (More infohere.
Spokespersons from Metropolis in Motion are available for interviews and more background information. They are:
Julie Ziff Sint: 610-704-8293
jewels@metropolisinmotion.org
John McGarvey: 917-572-0206
mj@metropolisinmotion.org
Stefanie Jones: 212-613-8047
stefanie@metropolisinmotion.org