Don't like dancing in public? Head to this unique event to groove without judgement

Participants enjoy the dance during a session in Melbourne. PIC COURTESY/No Lights No Lycra Melbourne

If your weekends involve busting moves at your favourite pub, or finding comfort in a corner, fearing judgement from a bunch of strangers, an upcoming event this Sunday is just where you need to unwind.

No Lights No Lycra (NLNL), an hour-long dancing session combined with groovy foot-tapping music is the ultimate stress buster that enables you to shake those arms, legs and head whichever way you want. Once the music begins, the lights go off, and you are free to jump, sway and move sideways without meeting any cold or awkward stares.

Yooti Bhansali, a music enthusiast and Indian ambassador of NLNL who commenced the Mumbai chapter, wants people to ditch the norms associated with dancing on public platforms, "Originally started in Melbourne, Australia in 2009, Alice Glenn, the founder was tired of the performative aspect of dancing in pubs and bars. To get rid of this, the concept of dancing in a dark room was started, initially involving four to five people." stated Bhansali. The idea was liked by people and spread from neighbourhoods in Melbourne to other cities in Australia, and eventually, in different parts of the world such as Beijing and LA to name a few.

Yooti Bhansali

The Mumbai chapter, started in 2019 had to shut down after the COVID-19 pandemic left the nation in shambles. Upon its revival this year, the event invites participants to spend an hour in the dark dancing to a playlist specially curated by Bhansali herself, from '80s pop to '90s Bollywood, Lebanese rock and Swedish dance house music. The vast and interesting selection of music is an effort to avoid playing songs people might expect to listen to on a dance floor or trendy music usually played at pubs and bars.

While the idea of dancing in the dark may be apprehensive to some, participants of all ages begin enjoying the ambience after getting adjusted to the dark and immerse themselves in their own little routine, "Even though NLNL is a group activity, it's a solitary activity because you are dancing by yourself with other people in the darkness. It's almost meditative in nature," remarked Bhansali.

ON July 27; 8 pm to 9 pm
AT Nautilus, Level 3 of Candies, 5AA Pali Hill, Bandra West.
LOG ON TO @nlnlmumbai (for details and registration)
ENTRY Rs 699