DANCE
Perth Town Hall
24th January 2016
Review by Jessica Clausen
No Lights No Lycra has at its heart a simple concept: come in, switch off the lights, and dance in a judgement-free zone to whatever’s on the playlist. Starting in Melbourne in 2009, the brand has made global success, and now allows willing members of any city to become its ambassadors and share with the community the joy of free dance. Although NLNL hosts regular events outside of the festival’s run, Perth was lucky enough to get an hour-and-a-half-long “Fringe special” session in the Perth Town Hall this weekend.
After first hearing about it, I was intrigued. A space to dance that wasn’t an alcohol-infused club or your private home? This was new for me. Free dancing is something hard to come by, and with professional dance classes being filled with all-too-talented individuals, NLNL sounds inviting for your everyman. Unfortunately, the ‘dance like no one is watching’ ideal doesn’t quite work in this context – at least not for everyone.
The venue was divided between enthusiastic and excited members and those nervous, unsure people waiting for some direction. It was clear many people were loving the idea, moving with careless abandon despite the packed space. The DJ was vibrant and energetic – hopping her way across the stage – and other event staff were just as excitable.
Yet despite the clear energy in the show, too many times it seemed I found myself enviously watching others who seemed completely at lax. My rigid movements became similar to those of the sober friend at a club. Perhaps it was the heat of the room, or that it wasn’t quite dark enough. Or perhaps some people just can’t quite remove that sense that they’re not alone. Whatever the reason, something was preventing a small minority to truly get involved.
I can’t give critique for an individual’s music taste, and there definitely was a fairly wide range of music, from oldies to hits of 2015, with a few alternative tracks in the mix too. Granted, it is difficult to please everyone and although some tracks I felt were just not the dancing type, the DJ did seem to please the majority at least once.
The NLNL Perth community put on a big show, and the idea seems a difficult one to perfect and it interests me still as a fun for of exercise. But a hyped-up concept seemed to blind the reality of this show: not everyone can dance amongst a squeezed-together group of people, no matter how dim the lights are. At the end of the day, No Lights No Lycra is a perfect way to have fun while sweating, but only with those comfortable and confident enough to free their inhibitions. If you’re up for the challenge, it’s definitely worth checking out.
No Lights No Lycra ran for one night on January 23 for Perth Fringe World. The community hosts regular events every Tuesday in Northbridge.
