30/8/2017 2 Comments Rooftop DiscoWhat a wonderful way to spend Sundays! Tiled on the rooftop of Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall (LCH) is a large chessboard, and over the summer of 1933 the 5th World Chess Olympiad was held here. Playing for the French team was conceptual artist Marcel Duchamp but he and his teammates would not have been pleased to have shared the space with us. For them it was the click of chess pieces, the ping of the timers and the occasional ‘Shh!’ Not the same for us! Visitors to the same roof on the four Sundays through August 2017 were more used to the pounding of disco music, chattering people, shrieking children and peals of laughter in a scene to be found nowhere else. And there was never a single ‘Shh!’ None of us wanted to be quiet and we were certainly enjoying ourselves. It was easy to be happy when surrounded by so many heart-lifting stimuli. It seemed that everyone knew everyone or at least a few someones. As they came up the steps onto the roof, arms and smiles would spread. Someone would rush happily towards someone else and everywhere were hugs, kisses and cuddles…definitely my sort of place! And why was I there? Earlier that week, I had met a neighbour in the street who gave me a flier. “Somebody’s been sticking these under car windscreen wipers. I didn’t think you’d be interested so I took it off your car.” I thanked him, read it but then squeaked to myself. It was one of the Rooftop Disco fliers and, as I had been thinking more about getting back into DJing, I realised that this was a good way to find out what has been going on in the DJ world over the past 26 years since I last DJ’d. It’s not easy going to a club at night as a single woman, especially if you’re going for the music, not to be picked up. And if you are an oldish, single woman, there is a sense of being the spectre at the feast as you prop up a pillar and just enjoy the sounds as all the younger people dance the night away. So this was a gift - music, DJs and people dancing; in the daytime; outside. Every kind of person was there. From babes in arms to old people being helped up the steps while someone carried their zimmers. Some were in family or friend groups, some brought children, some were in couples, some were alone. Everybody looked comfortable, - shorts, t-shirts, trainers and flip flops - nobody primped and formal. Plenty of beautifully tanned shoulders, arms and hands ... and then there were the noses! Flashing, throbbing, sunburnt and sure to peel; mine certainly did. And I can’t forget the dogs which joined the fun. I especially liked the labrador which pushed me out of the shade under the gazebo so that he could lie there. But he didn’t seem to mind me bouncing about as he tried to sleep with his head on my foot! Tending to be a loner, an observer in most situations, for much of the time I simply watched and soaked in the atmosphere. It didn’t matter. We all shared the sun, the breeze, the music, the views, and best of all, we shared the fun! The sun glistened off the sea; one Sunday, waves were just ripples and on another they were storm-like; the wind whipped the flags; the heat was deceptive. The air was clear and easily carried the smells of the hot dogs and tacos, sun cream and, unfortunately, cigarettes and a cigar. Well, I suppose you can’t expect perfection! The music was pulsating, getting children and adults onto the dance floor. The roller skating DJ (not me!) created even more hilarity by chasing some kids to play Tag as the sounds filled the space around them. I didn’t join in the Conga, the Oops Upside Down or even the Boogie dance, even though I love it. Plenty of other people did them all. There were a few good old disco records and some modern music which simply seems to emphasise rhythm. Although I love a song which I can sing and bounce along to, there is something compulsive about driven rhythm so I was soon enjoying the ‘new-fangled’ stuff! And we had audiences, once a small plane flew past and tipped its wings at us...we all waved back; and then a passing helicopter slowed down as people hung out of the open door and waved at us...we cheered and waved back. The dance floor was perfectly defined by the chess board. It was interesting to watch the way that everyone insisted on dancing within the squares, yet there was no reason why they could not have danced a few feet to the outside of the ‘board’. Some people would dance not only within a physical space, but clearly within their own minds, completely letting go, as free as we all want to be. If only I could! For me, the music gets into my mind and my body is compelled to respond. The rhythm starts in my throat, moves to my chest and then down to my feet. I simply cannot stay still, but I dance best from sitting down! Just occasionally I will surprise myself and others by moving on to the dance floor. Their stunned expressions are not in awe of my dancing abilities, but the fact that my backside has moved off the chair! Part of the problem is that although my body pretends that I am in my 30s; and my mind sometimes behaves as if I’m in my teens; my knees insist on reminding me that I’m in my 60s! So how had this all started? The wonderful idea of holding a disco on the Leas Cliff Hall rooftop came from Julia Jones and Rachel Meir, directors of ‘Found in Music’ and ‘Surround Sound’, who had wanted to do something fun for Folkestone. They presented the concept to the LCH and set it up with Chris and Liz Smith of The Chambers. Andy Robinson of ‘Found in Music’ worked with Chris and the LCH to make it happen. Food was supplied by The Chambers, drinks by the LCH, and music came from Frederick’s Unique Sound System (F.U.S.S - Nathan Atkins and Amanda Murphy). And how successfully it all went! All of the friends I invited, loved the whole experience. I was singing its praises to one old friend there with me “OK, it’s windy but listen to the music, see how happy the children and the adults are; and best of all, look at that view, the sea and France! Bet you’re not used to that!” “No, but then, I do live in Coventry!!!” I was hooked after the first Sunday. By the second week, I knew I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else on a Sunday afternoon – I was soaking up the sun, responding to the music and meeting interesting people. The third was a fascinating week as 8 year old Frederick, son of Amanda and Nathan, took a set of his own, and wasn’t he good? By then Amanda had invited me to take a spot in the final week. I was so flattered and excited about doing it. The fourth week came and by then I was mildly terrified at the thought of having to perform again. In the morning I enjoyed being part of the setting up, even though I did little more than carry one end of the occasional flag or pole, but it was fascinating to watch it all grow and to realise just how much goes in to preparing for something like this. Then the afternoon arrived and I was thrilled to see how many friends of mine were there. It was a hot, sunny day with just enough wind to cool us down. And then Chris gave the introductions. I’m so used to little more than ‘Oh, look. It’s Joy’ that it was a shock to hear myself actually being described! “Our DJs today are of three generations - Roisin is 7 years old and her brother Frederick is 8; then comes Mum, Amanda; and our third generation is Joy. She was a DJ in gay clubs in the 70s and 80s but hadn’t DJ’d since 1991 until last weekend when she was a DJ at the Folkestone Pride disco.” Just as well I am already ‘out’!! Few people realise how free it feels to be so open nowadays. Yes, I’ve been ‘out’ since the 70s, but 2017 feels like the first year I have really felt ‘Proud to be Gay’! And the music began and the dance floor started to fill. Music pulsing, vibrating and pounding through the August air. People clearly loved it as the floor was almost bouncing. Amanda and Andy, changed the equipment from computer to my decks and real records. I was surprised at the interest there was in the fact that I was using actual vinyl records, things I had to cue in and move on and off the decks! I know that there are a few records which always get through to the heart and lift people on to the dance floor. This time I started with ‘Sweet Dreams’ The Eurythmics, and, sure enough, the few who were not already up dancing, quickly joined the rest. I relaxed, I was back where I love to be. I was the ‘old’ me. By the time I was well into playing my records, the remaining few inches of the chessboard were filled. At one point I spied a man across the roof clearly trying to get through the throng. He dodged to the left; he dodged to the right; he was elbowed and shouldered as he made his way slowly towards me. I saw many people apologise to him as they bumped into him or trod on his feet. Eventually he stepped to the side of the dance floor and made better progress. Still focussing on me, he made the last few steps and leant over into the DJ area. I smiled, inviting what I assumed would be a specific request. It was, sort of! “Could you play something that we could dance to?” Somehow I managed to maintain the friendly smile, the teacher’s look which says ‘I want to make a very sarcastic remark but will respect your apparent innocence or lack of awareness!’ I glanced only once at the seething, throbbing, thronging crowds on the dance floor and politely enquired “What do you suggest?” “Anything fast really. Just so that my wife and I can dance.” Well, I obviously got it right with my next record, T Rex ‘I Love to Boogie’, as I saw him and his wife up and dancing, just squeezing in to the small space still available. But eventually we had to finish. Let’s start a campaign for August to have more Sundays in future! With absolutely no doubt, Julia and Rachel achieved what they had aimed to do in bringing so much pleasure for so many people on Folkestone Sundays. So zillions of thanks to them and to Chambers, the Leas Cliff Hall and Frederick’s Unique Sound System. Also to the happy people of Folkestone (and Coventry!) for contributing to and sharing the fun. I had already been rewarded enough just by playing the records and being part of the event, but then young men, middle aged women, a couple of oldies, even a few teenagers came up to shake my hand, hug, kiss and high five me, and I was touched even more when Chris called up applause and cheers. But the moment which brought tears to my eyes was when a woman came over to me and said “You played every record I would have requested.” What more could I want? And then everything was packed up and I was fading fast. I didn’t want to leave, knowing that our special Sunday afternoons were over, but I will hold on to the sounds, the sun, the clear air and the fun but most of all, the lovely people, the happy faces, the hugs and what I hope are going to be, the friendships. JP 30.8.2017
2 Comments
Anni
7/12/2017 05:35:13 pm
What a fantastic idea - all ages coming together in the fresh air to dance for joy. We don't have enough opportunities to dance as we get older and this is just one brilliant way of providing some.
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Anni
7/12/2017 07:00:03 pm
Thanks for this. Yes, this kind of freedom is a big addition to so many people.
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