Danceteria
In the early 80s, New York City’s nightclub scene was undergoing a dramatic transformation. Studio 54 closed and CBGB shifted from new wave and punk to hardcore. The Roxy in Chelsea was evolving from a roller disco into a hub for hip-hop and B-boy culture.
Danceteria emerged... a legendary nightclub that spanning 13 years and three locations.
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The Stones partying at the first Danceteria
Two years after the first Danceteria was shut down it reopened in a former industrial space on West 21st Street and lasted for four years helping reshape American pop culture. Adam Horovitz described second Danceteria "the closest thing we had in Manhattan to an amusement park."
The Main Floor
DJ Mark Kamins on Floor 2
Danceteria was a multi-level playground, each floor offering a unique experience. the basement, had a dark, mysterious vibe attracting the goth crowd. Live bands rocked the main floor, and one flight up, the now-legendary DJ Mark Kamins commanded the dance floor.
The Third Floor was an experimental video lounge.
Congo Bill admission ticket
The third level featured an experimental video lounge and On the fourth floor was an exclusive members-only club with retro-futuristic décor and midcentury music called Congo Bill.
Danceteria's rooftop
The rooftop transformed into an open-air party space known as “Wuthering Heights,”
Madonna made her debut as a solo artist at Danceteria on December 16, 1982, for an audience of 300. Wow! Could you imagine being in attendance for that one?! Epic.
While at Danceteria, promoter Ruth Polsky made history by booking the first U.S. shows for Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, The Smiths, Cocteau Twins, The Cult, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, and Sisters of Mercy.
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The Beasties
LL Cool J
She also filled the club’s lineup with New York talent, including the Beastie Boys, LL Kool J, Kool Moe Dee, Chris Isaak, and Run-DMC.
Legendary Dancetria DJ Mark Kamins said "Danceteria was probably the first place where all people mixed. It was gay, straight, Black, white, Latin, rock and rollers, disco, hip hop... It was the first cosmopolitan party where everybody came together."
The former location of Danceteria - Phot: Chris Baker
Today, there's no indication that a raging all night party went on... but if you need great kitchen or bathroom tile for an apartment renovation, this place is perfect.
