Last night I attended a dance event called I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet (HSDY)
This event came to my attention through a newspaper article which looked at the dearth of club nights for people into and past their forties in London. My curiosity was piqued as I had not been to an event of this type before. Having entered the forties demographic recently, I thought I should check out what may lay ahead in my social dancing future.
My research assistant was an anonymous male companion called, 'Harry'. Harry agreed to accompany me on the proviso that he did not have to dance. We agreed that he would do all filming at the event and also fill in a questionnaire* afterwards about his impressions of the event and of the dancing he witnessed.
From its website, it seems that HSDY alternates between several venues in South East London. On the night of our event, the venue was St Swithuns church hall in Hither Green. A short walk from Hither Green overground station, we found the hall situated within a residential area. The event was scheduled to start at 7.30pm and we arrived at 8.40pm. As we entered the church grounds, we saw groups of people outside the hall chatting, drinking and smoking. They all looked to be in their late 30s and older. After paying (£10 per person) and gaining entry into the hall, this trend continued with the majority of punters looking to be an average age of 40+.
The church hall was small, about the size of a primary school assembly hall. At the front of the hall was a raised stage with parted curtains. The DJ and his decks were situated along the back of the stage. The DJ was dressed in a suit and cap. He looked like Caractacus Potts from the movie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. In front of him was a woman dancing onstage, smiling and gesturing to the dancing crowd below her. At first I thought she might have been someone who had gotten up on stage to dance but I soon realised she was there permanently in the style of a podium dancer at a club.
Below the stage, the hall was an open space. A few trestle tables and chairs had been pushed alongside the perimeter, mostly as repository for drinks and coats. At our time of arrival there were approximately 40-50 people on the dance floor. There was also a cash bar at the back of the venue.
My immediate impression on entering the venue apart from the spatial layout, was the music. The music playing was 80s and the dance floor was alive with enthusiastic dancers. The atmosphere felt like a combination of a high school reunion, parents' disco night, hens' night and forties singles night. Looking about I estimated about 150 people in attendance, approximately 80% of which were female. In terms of ethnicity, I observed that at least 50% of attendants were White Caucasian with the other 50% being a mixture of appearing to be Afro-Caribbean, of Latin origins and Asian. Apart from myself, I saw only one other Oriental person there.
My immediate impression on entering the venue apart from the spatial layout, was the music. The music playing was 80s and the dance floor was alive with enthusiastic dancers. The atmosphere felt like a combination of a high school reunion, parents' disco night, hens' night and forties singles night. Looking about I estimated about 150 people in attendance, approximately 80% of which were female. In terms of ethnicity, I observed that at least 50% of attendants were White Caucasian with the other 50% being a mixture of appearing to be Afro-Caribbean, of Latin origins and Asian. Apart from myself, I saw only one other Oriental person there.
Suzi Quattro podium dancer
Harry and I sit down alongside the dance floor, close to the front of the stage. The dance floor is dominated by women who seem an average age of mid 40s. Some dance in a circle with their friends. Others dance alongside one another, looking up to the stage. A few dance by themselves interweaving amongst the crowd or on the dance floor periphery. There are men too on the dance floor but apart from one man who looks like he is wearing a blonde Groucho Marx wig, they don't seem to stand out. I don't know why.
Another female comes onto the stage and dances alongside the podium dancer. She is wearing aqua lycra leggings, a tshirt bearing the HSDY logo and sweatbands in the style of a 1970s tennis player. I feel quite at home having worn a 70s style black jumpsuit in a nod to the retro theme. The 80s tracks keep coming with songs such as 'What a Feeling', 'Mickey', and, 'Footloose'. The crowd are loving it and there is an audible sense of recognition, excitement and renewed verve for dancing every time a track comes on that people recognise and/or have some connection to. I am feeling this too as these are songs from my past which I do not hear often.
After watching the dance floor for a short while, I notice that the social dance style being displayed does not differ to dance styles I have seen at other social dance events. There is nothing unique or exceptional about the dancing I am seeing apart from the fact that the demographic executing it is an older one. The two step shuffle is on display as is a vertical jiggling I have seen before. The dancers do not seem any more or less inhibited than any other dancing crowd at a social event.
Another female comes onto the stage and dances alongside the podium dancer. She is wearing aqua lycra leggings, a tshirt bearing the HSDY logo and sweatbands in the style of a 1970s tennis player. I feel quite at home having worn a 70s style black jumpsuit in a nod to the retro theme. The 80s tracks keep coming with songs such as 'What a Feeling', 'Mickey', and, 'Footloose'. The crowd are loving it and there is an audible sense of recognition, excitement and renewed verve for dancing every time a track comes on that people recognise and/or have some connection to. I am feeling this too as these are songs from my past which I do not hear often.
After watching the dance floor for a short while, I notice that the social dance style being displayed does not differ to dance styles I have seen at other social dance events. There is nothing unique or exceptional about the dancing I am seeing apart from the fact that the demographic executing it is an older one. The two step shuffle is on display as is a vertical jiggling I have seen before. The dancers do not seem any more or less inhibited than any other dancing crowd at a social event.
I find that my eyes are continually drawn to one female dancer in her late 20s, early 30s. The reason I keep looking at her is because her dancing is engaging to watch. She seems totally oblivious to all around her, moving rhythmically to the music in an un-self conscious fashion. I get out my phone to film her and feel very awkward doing so. No-one else seems to be documenting the event by taking photos or filming. This trend continues throughout our time there which makes it difficult when Harry or I attempt to take documentation. The lack of people on their phones is obvious when a bouncer requests us to not film so much. I note that this must truly be a generational thing for I wonder if I went to a club with 20-somethings, whether this would still be the case.
After about watching the dance floor for about 20 minutes, I get up to
dance. It feels like work and I feel a bit ridiculous. I know I
am dancing merely to record it for my research rather than any strong desire
to participate. I ask Harry to record some
footage. Due to the dimness of the
venue and his poor filming skills, the footage is not great:
The DJ & Podium Dancer on stage with punters dancing below
I feel quite uncomfortable dancing as I am tired and it feels awkward. I feel like I have crashed a stranger’s private party. I don’t know anyone else on the
dance floor and the venue is not large enough to get 'lost' in the crowd. I
feel exposed and on edge. I am also out of the habit of going out dancing so
it all feels a bit rusty. I have the strange feeling that I am in my body, but
also out of my body observing myself and everything around me.
Because of this, I cannot let myself go into the dancing. I am thinking
too much.
I move on and off the dance floor depending on the music that is playing. The moves I do are my usual moves which consist of circular hip movements with bended knees, extensive shoulder usage and head swaying. I do not manage to bring my arms much into play as there is not enough room around me. As the night progresses, the DJ starts to play less 80s, and more disco and indie mixes. I feel there is a subliminal pressure to have fun; to prove that 40+ people can still get down. I am not really having fun. But I think this is due to fieldwork; having to hold yourself in check and take everything into account. Most people around me look like they are having fun judging by the expressions on their faces. There are several times during the night where the lady in aqua leggings takes to the stage with a microphone to direct the dancing crowd through an ensemble dance sequence. One such sequence is as follows:
· Dancers assemble into two lines running vertical to stage front on the dance floor
· They all sit down facing the stage with their legs parted wide (as in a classical 2nd
position on the floor) Each person is sitting closely to the person both in front
and behind him/her so their butt is positioned close to the groin of the person
behind them
· Counts 1 & 2 – Roll both shoulders forward and lean upper forward
· 3 & 4 – Roll both shoulders back. Lean upper body back.
· Repeat
Another group sequence that happens is the Hustle. The crowd seem to both anticipate and enjoy these participatory activities. It serves, I think, to enhance the sense of belonging to the evening. |
Harry and I leave the event at 10.30pm. The event is scheduled to finish at 11pm. This relatively early finish time is most likely because a lot of the attendants have families and have to get up early the next day or just don’t want to be out dancing until the early hours. Whilst I welcome an event which takes lifestyle factors into account, I can’t help but think as we leave, that we are shutting down the night before it has time to really get going. However the key focus of the event was a night of dancing and fun for over 40s and there is no doubt in my mind that the majority of people present had a truckload of it.
*Questionnaire:
Research Participants in Fieldwork
1) Name:
ANONYMOUS. 'HARRY'.
2) Age:
2) Age:
42
3) Location:
LONDON
4) Profession:
4) Profession:
ACCOUNTANT
5) Are you trained in any style of dance? If so, what was the period of training, e.g. 12 years in jazz, one off workshop in salsa:
5) Are you trained in any style of dance? If so, what was the period of training, e.g. 12 years in jazz, one off workshop in salsa:
NO
6) Do you regularly partake in any kind of dance activity in your daily life? e.g. Zumba classes, clubbing and so on:
6) Do you regularly partake in any kind of dance activity in your daily life? e.g. Zumba classes, clubbing and so on:
NO
7) How did you feel prior to taking part in this dance research event? What were your expectations?:
7) How did you feel prior to taking part in this dance research event? What were your expectations?:
GENERALLY APPREHENSIVE AS DON’T DANCE SOCIALLY MUCH. CURIOUS ABOUT THE EVENT AS I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
8) Did you feel comfortable dancing at the event? Why? Why not?:
8) Did you feel comfortable dancing at the event? Why? Why not?:
DIDN’T DANCE. THE EVENT WAS UNUSUAL IN THE AGE GROUP AND BEHAVIOUR OF PEOPLE. NOT THREATENING. BUT ODD. LESS PARENTS DISCO, MORE GRANDPARENTS DISCO. WITH A SENSE IT COULD DESCEND INTO A SWINGERS PARTY AT ANY MOMENT.
9) Please feedback your thoughts about the following at the dance event you attended:
The venue:
The venue:
SCHOOL DISCO
The music:
The music:
STARTED WELL, WITH THINGS I KNEW. CROWD PLEASERS I GUESS.WHEN THE 60 YEAR OLD DJ STARTED MIXING, HE LOST ME.
The other people at the event:
The other people at the event:
MIDDLE AGED PARENTS/GRAND PARENTS.
The clothing worn at the event:
The clothing worn at the event:
MIDDLE AGED PARENTS IN FANCY DRESS
The atmosphere:
The atmosphere:
GENERALLY VERY GOOD. EVERYONE SEEMED TO BE HAVING A GOOD TIME.
The dancing that happened at the event:
The dancing that happened at the event:
A COMBINATION OF THE TWO STEP MIXED WITH A FEW PEOPLE LETTING LOOSE. THE STAGED GROUP DANCING LOOKED DRUNKEN PUB PAINFUL.
The timing of the event (was it too early? Did it go on for too long?):
The timing of the event (was it too early? Did it go on for too long?):
FOR ME A COUPLE OF HOURS WAS ENOUGH. ONCE THE NOVELTY WORE OFF.
The cost:
The cost:
NOMINAL
10) How would you describe the way you danced at the event?
N/A
11) Would you attend this event again? Why? Why not?:
11) Would you attend this event again? Why? Why not?:
PROBABLY NOT. MORE JUST NOVELTY FOR ME
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