Dancing and Community, from past to present
Alternative Club is putting on a discotheque with the Queer Community Coalition and Inclusivity Club on Nov 14 at p.m. in the Cooper House.
The organizers aim to create a fun and inclusive space at the dance, recalling how disco has historically been a platform for expression for LGBTQ+ individuals.
“[Disco] just has a lot of roots in queer culture, and it’s just really important to me personally. Besides that, it’s just a really fun, inclusive space and disco music is banging,” Elanore Jenkerson, leader of the Alternative Club, said on why the Alternative Club is putting on a discotheque.
Discotheques were often a safe space for black and LGBTQ+ people during a time when the world was actively hostile to them, according to PBS. During the 1970s, discotheques were places that marginalized communities could meet and have fun, leading some to call it the soundtrack of the revolution.
“Even when a 1971 law made same-sex dancing legal in New York City, wider society refused to tolerate it. For many, being queer became about looking out for each other — and disco was one way to do that,” said Ashlee Sierra in the PBS article, The Dazzling, Daring History of Disco
The Alternative Clubs discotheque is open to all, and Jenkerson said anyone can attend club events.
“You don’t have to come and be like the gothy-est person ever. You can dress however you want, you can listen to whatever music you want as long as you’re there to learn… as long as you are there to learn, I am happy to have anybody there,” Jenkerson said.
Jenkerson said the aim for this event is for people to have fun in a safe and inclusive environment.
In addition to the discotheque, the club is holding a crafting meeting the week before to get decorations for the dance. The club holds frequent meetings in the Warm Valley room of the Union, every other Thursday at 5 p.m., and has special events like the discotheque and more.
To find out more about this club, check out their Instagram page at uw.alt.club or their page on the UW Cowbell.
The Alternative Club started in 2024 as Jenkerson’s capstone project for their degrees in leadership and honors. They wanted to create a safe place for alternative people after their own experience during their Freshman year.
“I would say that my experience as a freshman and not really fitting in anywhere on campus definitely encouraged me to start the club,” said Jenkerson. They said they saw a void in the lack of alternative spaces on campus and decided to fill it.
