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DanceFreeDC
by Elahe Izadi
Every month, the sound of music ranging from Arabic to Pop to 80s can be heard from the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, as baby boomers, children, senior citizens and twenty-somethings kick off their shoes and dance the night away--literally.
DanceFreeDC is a volunteer-run, donations-based community event that is open to the public. On the second Saturday of every month, anywhere from 30 to 110 people come to the Maple Avenue dance studio to dance in a smoke-free, shoe-free environment. But it's more than just a dance, said committee member Bailey Whiteman, 33, of Washington, D.C.
"I think it's a subculture of people who believe community building is soul building, and that's good for the world," she said. "Dance is a healing force and a community force."
This particular dance has its origins in another dance organized by three women in the area and held at the Liz Lerhman studio. It was based on a mixture of dance styles, including trance dance, said committee member C.T. Butler, 51, of Takoma Park.
There are community dances all throughout the United States and across the world, many held once a week or more. Butler wanted to start a dance in the area similar to the barefoot boogie community dances organized by DanceNewEngland.
When the dances started, attendance peaked as high as 90 during fall 2003. Butler said that they get a lot of first-timers that attend who say they love it, "but we might see them once again in a year." He said since the dance is once a month, not everyone may be able to attend every month, which may account for the irregularity of attendance.
The most striking aspect of the dance is the diversity of the crowd--little children, baby-boomers, families, young adults and senior citizens all attend and they either show up in groups or alone, but rarely in couples, Butler said.
Misu Byrd, 31, of Washington, D.C. and her two and half year-old son attended the most recent dance on Nov. 13. Byrd said her son loves to dance and she was looking for a smoke-free, alcohol-free environment to dance with him in.
"I wish they had this everyday, not so much for him, but for me too," she said. "It lacks the discipline of aerobics, but gives you the same quality of physical release." And besides, she added, "it's nice to party with your kids."
Committee member Maryann Weber, 49 of Fairfax, Va., believes that there is a huge potential to have a larger and more frequent dance, and it's only the limited resources that are holding the dance back from reaching that potential.
Weber also noted the diversity and openness of the dance.
"We play to all races and to all ages," she said.
Weber said that all capabilities are welcome too. Past participants include those using wheelchairs and a chemo-therapy patient who needed an air-ventilator.
"To have a place to go with your ventilator to dance is pretty cool," she said. "Most people think the bar scene is the only place they can dance."
And attendees say they are relieved to find a new atmosphere to dance in.
"I like it better than going to the bars," attendee Kristin Zimmer of Takoma Park said. "[Here] there are no pressures to behave in a certain way."
There is a group of eight volunteer DJs who play music during the dances, typically two a night, each playing an hour and half set. Half-way through the dance is a break, called "the middle," when everyone sits in a circle, and announcements about other dances and the need for more volunteers are made. After the break, there is a circle dance that is "a community building exercise to promote a sense of unity, connectedness," said Jeanita Danzik.
The circle dance often ends in laughter and it's useful "to get people's inhibitions a little lower," Danzik said. "People may be apphrensive about dancing in front of everyone."
But at DanceFreeDC, there really is no reason to be shy. You'll never encounter mean stares and everyone dances, some with other people, but many dance about the room, utilizing the large studio space while feeling the music.
The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange is closing for six to nine months for renovations, and the small group of four to five core volunteers who do most of the grunt-work in terms of planning the dance, say they are tired and need more assistance and volunteers. A group of volunteers have come forward and are currently searching for a new location for the monthly dance. The tentative site for the December dance is at the Willow Street Yoga Center.
For more information about Dance Free DC, and how to participate, email DanceFreeDC@yahoo.com or call Kyle Greenlee at 301 526-7382.
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