It was movement like I had never seen it before.
People softly swaying in one corner. Someone kicking around their legs in the other.
Of course, I was only watching their silhouettes in motion. The room was nearly pitch black after all.
But that’s what made it so good.
Dancing in the dark had never felt better.
Turn off the lights and close your eyes.
Hit play on the playlist below.
Then start dancing.
That’s what my night at No Lights No Lycra felt like — except magnified by 1000x.
No Lights No Lycra is based on a pretty simple premise. A bunch of people gather in a dark room and dance to their hearts’ content for one hour.
Each week has a different theme, so you never really know what will happen until you show up.
With weekly sessions held all around the world, it sounded to me like the perfect way to spend a Friday night.
Equipped with a non-fluorescent, non-lycra outfit, I was ready to give it a try.
A night of dancing in the dark
As I stepped into the dark studio at Canberra Dance Company, my eyes immediately began to adjust.
Fellow dancers were milling around; large fans in the corners kept the room cool.
But when the clock struck 8pm, the room began to shift.
The doors closed and we were instantly submerged in darkness.
You could feel everyone holding their breaths in anticipation.
Then … BAM.
Irene Cara’s classic hit What a Feeling flooded the room, and bodies were instantly set in motion.
It took me a little while to warm up and crack out my full-fledged dance moves, but I settled on some groovy swaying and occasional jumping about to begin with.
I will admit that, as a child of the early-2000s, I could not recognise every song of the night’s ‘I Love 80’s’ theme.
But I think not knowing made it even better in some ways. The suspense between tracks felt greater.
Curating the night
The curation of a great playlist is no easy feat.
My night at No Lights No Lycra was filled with sweeping up-beat highs, contrasted by perfectly-timed slow ballads.
As the night progressed, I couldn’t help but wonder who was behind the beautifully-designed sequence of music.
My curiosity was soon satisfied: it was Miff & Heather — No Lights No Lycra’s North Canberra Ambassadors.
“There is an art to the playlist,” says Heather.
Like all good stories, there’s got to be an arc: “You’ve got to start strong…let people have a little bit of a breath…and then end on a banger.”
“And occasionally you can put on a seven and a half minute Doors song,” Miff jokes.
Heather (left) & Miff (right)
But when it comes to deciding the theme, often the golden question is “what do I want to dress up as this week?”.
Recent themes have included Wild Animals, 90s Grunge, and Freaky Friday (to honour the two consecutive Friday the 13ths that have occurred this year).
For those with a burning song suggestion, don’t fear.
Request night is the last Friday every month where YOU get to help build the playlist.
Dancing the night away
As I grooved along to ’80s bangers, what struck me most was the sheer diversity of dance styles.
It wasn’t a rave, nor a sedentary listening party.
Some of my fellow dancers were absolutely going for it, which was a joy to watch (as much as I could in the dark).
I would then spin around the next second and see someone softly swaying in the corner all night, seemingly at peace.
Such range of expression is really a testament to the power and individuality of music. 80’s power ballads can get you in all kinds of feels.
The final verdict
Closing your eyes in a music-filled space and letting your body move however it wishes is a truly singular sensation.
But it was this exact feeling which I cherish most from the night — and it’s a feeling I seek to experience again.
Walking out of the dark room, I was red-faced and sweaty.
It’s safe to say my body had been put to hard work for the past hour. Who knew dancing could be so exhausting?
But it was hard to miss the smiles on all our faces.
Turns out dancing in the dark with a room full of strangers is actually pretty great.
Would I do it again? 100%
Original photos by Alison Kennelly