"reduce bias-based hate and prejudice through the development and dissemination of effective educational materials and programs."

• PARTICIPATE: (you make this happen) • Staff Volunteers • Dance Teachers • DJs • Dance Companies, Troupes and Acts (application form provided)

• ATTEND (get your tickets here)

• COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDS RECIPIENT (see who is our winner this year and read about the awards dinner)

• SCHEDULE & MAP

• SPONSORSHIP & ADVERTISING (help support our efforts)

• TEACHERS & PERFORMERS (read about those who have volunteered to teach workshops and perform)

• LINKS

As late as 1980, it was technically illegal (though rarely enforced) for two people of the same gender to dance together in Los Angeles. This was true throughout most the United States. Even today, the largest ballroom dance organization in Southern California-Pasadena Ballroom- does not allow same-gender couples to dance together. If you try, they will eject you from their dances. They can legally do this since they are a "private" dance organization. Likewise, international ballroom dance competition still disallows same-gender couples from competing.

Seeing two people of the same gender dance together- particularly in ballroom or country-dance position where they touch- shatters gender and sexual stereotypes. In traditional couple dancing, the man leads and the woman follows. This is unfortunate for many reasons. Many women would like to lead and would be good at it. Many men would like to follow but they are not allowed to do so in the heterosexual community. For the LGBT community, leading, following, or switching between both, are choices we can make. We can dance with both men and women. This freedom comes about because we are independent of gender roles; and that is what we can teach the heterosexual community.

The LGBT community also needs to see same-gender couples dancing together. Not just club dancing where people rarely touch, but in dance position with arms around each other and hands in hands. Seeing two people of the same gender dancing together shows that there are options to the heterosexual model and, as such, reduces internalized homophobia.

Years ago, the County of Los Angeles hosted at the Ford Theater a county-wide dance festival called “Dance Kaleidoscope.” Local dance companies and troupes were invited to perform during a weeklong program in the summer. This program continued for approximately 15 years. It is time for a similar event for the LGBT community.

Proposal

We would like to establish a “LGBT Dance Festival 2006.” This would be an opportunity to:

• Teach couple dancing to persons of the same-gender. This would include ballroom, country, square dancing, and more.
• Celebrate newly learned dance skills through a community dance.
• Give performances for the LGBT and non-LGBT communities by dance troupes whose choreography includes persons of the same gender dancing together
• Inform the general community about the options and freedoms available in LGBT couple dancing.
• Bring together persons of various dance forms to share with each other.
• Have a fun time dancing in same-gender couples without the hindrances and oppression found in traditional couple dancing.
• Recognize with a Community Service Award some of the people who have taught dance to same-gender couples.
  

The focus of the event is to support the freedom of people to dance in same, or opposite, gender couples without adherence to strict gender roles- and to recognize local performance dance companies and troupes, teachers, and other dance enthusiasts who share that view.

Structure

The event has four elements:

• Lessons and Workshops (2 hours) - Local teachers conduct intensive lessons or workshops that support same-gender couple dancing.
  
• Community Dance (2 hours) -A dance is held that allows students to practice what they have learned at the lessons and workshops, and for anyone else who is supportive of same-gender couple dancing.
  
• Community Service Awards Dinner (1 1/2 hours) - A dinner is held to honor outstanding teachers to the LGBT community. We will be issuing two Community Service Awards.
  
• Performance (2 hours)- Local dance companies, troupes, and acts perform their choreography that is supportive of same-gender dancing.
  

Audience

This event is open to all people and all ages. GLSEN is showing interest in participating.

It is estimated 150-200 people will attend.