Montreal venues plan street march to protest indoor dancing ban

  • Share
  • Restaurants and clubs are holding what they call an "open dance floor demonstration" on October 23rd.
  • Montreal venues plan street march to protest indoor dancing ban image
  • Montreal's nightlife players are taking a stand against a state rule that prohibits indoor dancing. On October 23rd, several establishments are hosting a march in the city's downtown core in opposition of the pandemic-related restriction. Organisers include underground clubs Stereo, Club Unity, Le Salon Daomé and New City Gas as well as techno collective OCTOV and non-profit organisation MTL 24/24. Speaking to RA, Stereo described the dancing ban as hypocritical, noting how politicians have already eased rules for outdoor games and concerts. "They've made massive cuts to funding for businesses who've been unable to open throughout the pandemic, but as of last week have decided to allow a full capacity stadium of 20,000 spectators to watch ice hockey games," said Stereo resident and curator Nadir Agha AKA Ostrich. "Last weekend, the stadium even hosted a Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias concert with 15,000 in attendance, largely unmasked, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, and dancing yet the government still refuses to open the discussion of permitting dancing in nightclubs." As of November 1st, restaurants and bars can finally open at full capacity but the no-dancing rule remains in effect. For information on the upcoming protest, visit the Facebook event.
RA