Theresa, our Regional Coordinator in NYC, passed along some footage of our Step It Up dancers jamming out to Michael Jackson recently.  I thought I'd share these unique clips with the YN community since this week has kinda sucked.  Lots of folks have passed away, including the legendary Michael Jackson (check out Debbie's post, which includes the two MJs facing off!).  I've done a lot of reflecting this week as a result of MJs untimely death.  Not sure if there's some sort of Universal quota that needs to be filled, but it sure seems crazy that folks are dying left and right this week (Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays, and Walter Cronkite is reportedly in critical condition).

Anywho, I thought it was pretty awesome that our Step It Up dancers - a generation of young people who are the last to experience MJ while he was a live - bust a move to the greatest bust a mover of our time.

Rest in peace Michael Jackson from all of us here at YouthNoise/Playcity.

And don't forget the June 30th performances are right around the corner!  Here's the info:

 
1:00pm to 4:00pm         Finalist Tech Rehearsals

5:30pm                         Doors open for Competition                     

I leave NY tomorrow and will, sadly, miss the THIRD ANNUAL NY DANCE PARADE.  This parade started in 2007 and now brings thousands of dancers together in the streets.  It is a charity who's mission is:

     to promote dance as an expressive and unifying art form by
     showcasing all forms of dance, educating the general public
     about the opportunities to experience dance, and celebrating
     diversity of dance in New York City by sponsoring a yearly
     city-wide dance parade and dance festival.  (danceparade.org)

This year they have 5103 registered dancers, 113 dance organizations, and 60 unique dance styles.  The parade starts  at 1pm on Broadway and 27th street.   I don't think it's too late to sign up or volunteer, so check out danceparade.org and get involved.  Also, if you are a dancer in NYC, check out Play City's STEP IT UP  campaign where you can dance for your favorite cause and win $1000 to create change in your community.

Many people who participate in the dance parade are also protesting NYC's crazy cabaret laws which prevent you from shaking your booty wherever you want.   Cabaret laws were enacted in 1926 to control nuisance night spots.  They weren't really enforced until 1997, (the year I moved to NYC) when Mayor Giuliani decided, as part of his "quality of life" campaign, to bring these crazy laws back.  This meant that clubs, bars, and restaurants, had to buy expensive cabaret licenses (equivalent to buying a liquor license) if their patrons were going to dance. 

Of course, all the gigantic mega clubs can afford these, but all of a sudden, I was being told to sit down at my favorite little jukebox bar.  These laws are the worst for small venues that can't afford these licenses, not to mention they are difficult to obtain.  There are many places now with "No dancing" signs, and I have even been kicked out of clubs for shaking it!  (I can't help it sometimes.)  These laws are still enforced under Mayor Bloomberg, and many bars and clubs have been raided, fined, and shut down just because people were caught (gasp!) DANCING. 

Apparently there is no constitutional right to dance.  "In 2006, a New York State Supreme Court ruled that, unlike music, theater and painting, dance is not a constitutionally protected form of expression." (danceparade.org)

Can you believe it?