America and dancing don't really jive. In fact, the history of nightlife in the US is littered with rules and regulations attempting to curtail the activity. In the hyper-Christian America of the mid-1800s, publicly gyrating with a partner was forbidden in numerous cities and towns; and for much of the 20th century, it was illegal to dance with a member of the same-sex. Even today, regulations like the Cabaret law in New York—used at various points since the 1920s to target people of color and those from the LGBTQ community—still exist. Tracing the instances in which the law butted up against dancing, it becomes apparent that more often than not, enforcement of such legislation constituted a covert attempt to police sexuality and oppress marginalized communities.
In this history, THUMP runs through some of the most egregious examples of American lawmakers and institutions attempted to pull the plug on partying, and how these laws often reflected the morality and prejudices of the times.
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