Queer Club Culture: Dance and Resistance
Queer club culture has long been a beacon of vibrancy and transformation within the LGBTQ+ community. In her book, “Impossible Dance: Club Culture and Queer World-Making,” Fiona Buckland explores the intricate dynamics of this subculture, particularly focusing on the 1990s New York City scene.
Buckland’s ethnographic study sheds light on how queer club culture serves as a powerful site of resistance and identity formation. For me, the dance floor feels like a sanctuary — a stage where I can express my true self, free from societal constraints. Dancing is more than just a form of entertainment; it is a bold political statement. It embodies a reclamation of space and identity, allowing queer individuals like myself to assert our presence and celebrate our uniqueness.
The book highlights the role of music, fashion and performance in shaping the queer club experience. Music, with its pulsating beats and liberating rhythms, creates an atmosphere of unity and euphoria that I can’t find anywhere else. Fashion, on the other hand, becomes my tool for self-expression and defiance. In club culture, attire is a way to challenge gender norms and societal expectations, crafting our identities through our sartorial choices.
Buckland also delves into the intersection of queer club culture with broader social and political issues. The dance floor becomes a microcosm of the larger struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community, including the fight against HIV/AIDS and the quest for equal rights. Through our performances and interactions, we engage in a form of activism, raising awareness and fostering solidarity.
As a queer woman who loves to dance, I can’t help but feel a sense of pride in the history of queer clubbing that comes before me. It is my duty to continue dancing extravagantly in the most expressive outfits I can. Java is a consistent place on campus where I can display this side of my identity without feeling the need to educate or perform for anyone else.
At Java, on Saturday, March 29, in collaboration with The Dub, Club Dub will be an intentional place where I can partake in queer club culture on the St. Lawrence University campus. Join me, Java, The Dub and student D.J.s for a night of dancing and celebrating queerness. Let’s create our own vibrant and transformative space together.