Leave self doubt at the door, boogie in the shadows

Dance is a universal form of expression and celebration, but it often comes with a hefty dose of self-consciousness.

But what if you could lose yourself to dance and leave the self-doubt at the door?

That’s exactly what No Lights No Lycra (NLNL) offers – a weekly lights-off chance to dance in the dark for the pure enjoyment of moving and having fun.

NLNL was founded in 2009 when two rebellious Australian dance students decided they wanted to stop critiquing themselves in the mirror and dance solely for the joy of it.

NLNL now lights up (or, rather, dims down) over 75 locations worldwide.

This global dance phenomenon is arriving in Busselton this week, bringing its fun blend of music, movement, and freedom to Thursday nights.

For local NLNL Ambassador Richelle Russ, introducing this dance party to Busselton fulfils a long-held dream born from her own transformative experience.

“I went to my first NLNL session with one of my friends in Perth out of curiosity. We had no idea what we were in for!” Richelle said.

“Afterwards, we turned to each other and said, ‘Oh my God. What was that?’ It felt like we’d just had this wild spiritual experience! We kept going every week because, for us, it became all about the pure freedom of dancing.”

While the ‘No Lights’ part is non-negotiable, the ‘No Lycra’ part is more flexible – wear whatever makes you comfortable.

It could be your office attire, boardies, or a fully sequined leotard; there are no rules except that you MUST wear clothes!

The darkness creates a sweet spot – just enough light to see silhouettes but dark enough not to worry about how you or others look.

“Each session was such a blast! I pulled out dance moves I didn’t even know I had!” Richelle said.

“It was amazing because I wasn’t held back by myself. It’s not competitive, and it’s not for those looking for an audience.

“It’s about self-expression and spending time with yourself, which can be tough for many people.”

This emphasis on wellness moves beyond the grooves. “There’s the fitness element because you can push yourself as hard as you want or just move gently,” Richelle said.

“But something special occurs in our brains when we listen to music.

“It helps us disconnect from our busy minds. NLNL allows you to surrender to movement and music and just be.”

While you might dance independently, you’re never truly alone.

“People say, why go to NLNL when you can dance solo at home? But it doesn’t compare to being with a group sharing a collective energetic experience,” Richelle said.

“It’s like when you’re at a party and an anthem like ‘You’re the Voice’ comes on, and everyone sings their heart out together – it’s the same thing but with dance.

“In a society where disconnection is common, you can fill that isolation void while still being in your own space.”

Besides the dancers’ collective energy, the music is the soul of the session, with playlists crossing decades and genres-from swing to soul, rock to pop, dance floor classics to the random and unexpected.

“You might not love every song, but that’s the beauty of dancing in the dark-you can simply sway through one song and burst into full dance mode for the next. No one will notice either way.”

The darkness levels the dance floor. Confident movers and first-time dancers share the same shadows, where your body naturally finds its rhythm without overthinking.

The space welcomes all ages, abilities, backgrounds, and dance styles – when everyone’s a silhouette, everyone belongs.

You’re welcome to come solo or bring a bunch of mates to this fun, drug and alcohol-free (and judgment-free) zone, where the only expectation is to be yourself!

The search for the right venue led Richelle to a surprising discovery.

“I looked for a long time to find the perfect venue, and I found it at the Senior Citizens Centre,” she said.

“Don’t let the location fool you – it’s literally the best dark dancing room in town!

“Come dance in the dark! I invite you to step into the music and see if it’s yours too. We all deserve to let go and have fun, so let’s do it together.”

No Lights No Lycra launches Thursday, March 27th, from 6:30-7:30 pm at the Senior Citizens Centre, 22 Peel Terrace, Busselton. Entry is $10 and tickets are available here.

For more info, follow @NLNLBusselton on Facebook and Instagram or email nlnlbusseltong@gmail.com