Brooklyn Museum Treats Us Like The Small Town in Footloose By Taking Dancing Away
In a surprising move that’s sure to prove unpopular, the Brooklyn Museum announced on Friday that, for the time being, they will cancel the Target Free Saturday dance parties. According to a blog post on the museum’s website written by Elisabeth Callihan, Manager of Adult Programs, this change is a result of “challenges with capacity crowds and traffic flow throughout the building.” Of course, everyone knows that the correct way to handle an event that’s TOO popular is to cancel it.
A large part of the appeal of Target Free Saturdays is the dance party. Every month, thousands of young Brooklynites flock to the museum to admire its unique exhibits and dance in the third floor atrium. I’ve been to several of these events, and it’s really the combination of artwork and dancing that attracted me. Surrounded by European paintings of religious figures, one might feel awkward shaking his or her ass to pop and dance music. Yet the juxtaposition of those tunes against the museum’s grand archways and palatial glass ceiling made for a truly unforgettable and unique Brooklyn experience. Without the dance parties, these nights at the museum will likely feel less joyous and communal.