Lights Out And Dance! (L.O.A.D)

Lights Out And DANCE!

Lights Out And DANCE! aka LOAD. is the Gold Coast’s very own weekly dance session with the lights out.

Since the dawn of time dancing has connected people and communities. Some people like to dance in a hall, some in their lounge rooms, but we like it in the dark!

The Gold Coasts LOAD sessions are for the Gold Coast community to connect and move on their own with your own special dedicated one hour every week to come together, tune out from the world and tune into yourself, music and movement.

LOAD will also help you conquer Mondayitis - yes, it’s a real thing! Now, every Monday you’ll have something exciting to look forward to. It’s LOAD’s of fun, will give you LOAD’s of energy and provide you with LOAD’s of health benefits – both mental and physical!

LOAD FAQ'S

WHAT IS LIGHTS OUT AND DANCE!?

LOAD is a LOAD of FUN!
It’s a weekly one hour dancing in the dark session for the pure joy of dance. People all across the world are regularly dancing with the lights out. It’s a chance to dance for yourself without following a teacher or learning awkward steps. It’s simply a place to shake out the stresses of the week any way you want - total free movement!

WHERE IS LIGHTS OUT AND DANCE?
LOAD sessions take place every Monday night from 7:00 - 8:15pm in the Main Hall of Burleigh Heads State School, Lower Gold Coast Highway, Burleigh Heads.

HOW MUCH IS LIGHTS OUT AND DANCE?
LOAD sessions are just $5 on the door! You don’t need to book, but please make sure you arrive on time, doors lock by 7:10pm.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC IS IT?
At LOAD what we dance to is shaped by you, our groovers! When your requests come through we try to shape our playlists to what you’re asking for. You can even be a guest DJ if you like!!

We try to cover most genres and era’s, with sessions made up of pop to rock to folk to swing, to r&b, to hip-hop, to booty popping world music and dance floor classics. The songs people respond the best to are the super cheesy classics! We do like to push boundaries and try everything. You'll hate some of it, but you'll love a lot of it. And, if there’s a song you don’t love you can always take a brake or do some stretching – it’ll only last for 3-4 minutes!

HOW DARK IS IT?
It's light enough so that you can see the silhouettes of people around you, but dark enough so that you can't make out their features. We aim for a sweet spot between creating a foolproof judgment-free space, and safety! Our hall is a large space with big windows. Most windows are blocked out to prevent the light coming in, but there are a few which cant be reached due to their height.

IT SOUNDS WEIRD & CREEPY. IS IT WEIRD & CREEPY?
At first, yep! But by the time the last song has played everyone in the hall is a ball of happy sweaty clapping joy!

LOAD is a drug, alcohol and douchebag free zone. While it is dark, LOAD is for dancing on your own, so people dance independently and there isn't any direct physical interaction between people.

DO PEOPLE GO ON THEIR OWN? Some do, and some don’t! Regardless, once the music starts everyone finds room on the dance floor to cut loose & dance independently. Attending alone is totally normal, welcome and even encouraged!

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? Whatever makes you feel comfortable to dance in - sweat pants, bike shorts, your office attire, or a one-piece full-sequined leotard. The only rule is that you do need to wear clothes, and preferably shoes.

DO PEOPLE TALK?
Whilst we encourage people to bring their friends we do ask for absolute minimal to no talking – this might seem strange to begin with, but it’s pivotal for getting lost in yourself and lost in the music. It also ensures we are mindful of all of our groovers and respect their time. Besides, the music is loud and people are there to dance, so the most verbal activity that happens is the whooping and cheering between song transitions.

WHY WOULD I GO IF I'M NOT A SHY DANCER?
Because the darkness creates a certain kind of magic that forces you to forget about what you or the people around you look like, so that your brain can shut off and your body can move with the beat. Stay for a session and we guarantee by the end you'll be in a dancing zone that you've never been before!

IS IT A BIT OF SCENE? WHO GOES TO THIS THING?
Nope! There's generally a good mix of ages, genders, bodies, abilities, backgrounds, and dance styles. We've had 4 year olds and 65 year olds, and everything in between. The beauty of the dark is that it doesn't really matter. If you want to be there, then you belong!

WHAT IF I HATE IT?
You won't. But if it turns out that it's not your thing, no worries at all, you're w