Footloose, Take Two?

Edmonton Prepares To Ban Dancing After 3 A.M.

Published On: 2001-06-26
Source: National Post (Canada)

EDMONTON - In a move that has similarities with the movie Footloose, city councillors are today expected to pass a bylaw that bans dancing after 3 a.m.

The bylaw will also forbid those under 18 years of age from attending dance events after midnight -- except for church and high school socials.

In 1984's Footloose, dancing was banned in the fictional town of Bomont because of the fear of "spiritual corruption." Actor Kevin Bacon rallied the town's teens at a civic meeting to protest the dancing ban.

In Edmonton, the backlash encouraged as many as 1,000 people -- primarily young adults -- to attend a mid-afternoon protest at city hall on Sunday afternoon.

City fathers say the ban is meant to reduce noise from raves.

Allan Bolstad, an Edmonton city councillor, said the by-law was drafted in response to noise complaints from business owners and residents living near a clutch of downtown rave-style clubs.

"This situation has evolved over quite some time and we received an awful number of complaints from people who own property next to these rave establishments that go right through the night," he said.

"The noise, the vandalism and, from time to time, the violence and fights and stuff that are breaking out."

The by-law was originally drafted in conjunction with local businesses, club owners, ravegoers and city staff who agreed on a plan that would see the downtown clubs clean up their acts. But in early June, the city's executive council forced through amendments to the by-law that would forbid dance events to continue after 3 a.m. and would force such clubs to send anyone under 18 home at midnight.

Mr. Bolstad said the city council was being "very liberal" in its approach to regulating rave clubs.

Peter Mercer, the director of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, said members have complained pounding drumbeats have disturbed the sleep of visitors at nearby hotels and awakened seniors in nearby apartments.

"Our problem is not about all-night dancing, it's the activities surrounding it that really are disturbing the rest of the business community," Mr. Mercer said.

David Johnson, a music journalist for an Edmonton weekly newspaper and a techno music DJ, said the by-law as proposed was unenforceable, unworkable and poorly thought out.

"It's Draconian and it's very short-sighted. It lacks the insight and understanding our civic leaders need."