A Brief History Of Dance Away Santa Barbara

April 7, 1978 - April 7, 2008

The idea for Dance Away was first suggested some time in 1976/1977 by Angelena (Lena) Craig, to Joan Leipnik, who were both in a dance class at City College. Lena had just come to Santa Barbara from Cambridge, MA, where she had been active in a weekly event called "Dance Free." She suggested that a similar group, to be designated "Dance Away", be tried at the Unitarian church in Santa Barbara. So she and Joan, together with Charles (Szaya) Gottlieb, brought the idea to the attention of the Unitarian Society of Santa Barbara's Director of Religious Education, Joan Orr, who helped the group develop the program. It was officially approved as a USSB function on November 21, 1978.

According to its Bylaws of September 28, 1979, its purpose was "to furnish for members of the church and the community, music and an environment which are conducive to creative movement, vigorous physical exercise, joyous emotional release, and a sense of community unfettered by such requirements as partners, conversation, artificial stimulants, patterned dance steps or strict dress code."

However, because the majority of its participants were not Unitarians, it soon became evident that its chief function was a service to the community, while at the same time bringing a modest revenue to the Unitarian Society. Within a year, the average attendance was close to 100 every Friday night, with most dancers between 25 to 35 years old, but also some older (50-70)and some younger (down to infants), demographics which still hold true.

From the beginning, a Dance Away committee, composed of half members from the community, has set Dance Away policies on everything from children, shoes, music volume and variety, and lost and found items to drumming, personnel and scheduling. The committee meets on the first Friday of every month from 6 to 7 PM.

Over the years there have been many changes. At first, there was only one DJ (Scott Clayton). The second year, two more were added. Altogather, 28 DJ's have served Dance Away. (We now have a pool of 8). Although there has always been three hours of continuous music, at the beginning the DJ's purchased tapes, and each night offered a special focus (e.g., Brazil, Africa, classical, gospel, jazz) and featured rarely heard recordings. Later, records were used, and now CD's. Our present emphasis is on musical variety every Friday (pop, rock, jazz, oldies, world beat, new-age, etc.).

During the first year, there were flowers, herbal tea, and even incense. Later, Dance Away Dan (Jones) served pure fruit punch, highlighted with elegant framed signs. When that cost more than we took in, we switched to delivered bottled water, then to filtered drinking-fountain water,and now, filtered water from the Societ's kitchen.

The suggested donation started out as $1.50. In 1981 it was raised to $2.00, in 1990 to $3.00 to $4.00, in 1998 to $4.00, in 2001 to $5.00, and in 2007 to $6 for adults and $2 for children. At first all the work was done by volunteers. Gradually a paid staff has been added, from only one ticket-taker, then two receptionists, then one manager, then two. Three years ago the Friday-night manager and the Senior Manager were combined into one position, whose duties include doing the payroll and supervising two door-staff workers, who set up, receive donations, check personal belongings, and put everything back afterwards each Friday. Our DJ's are also paid.

Besides contributing to the Unitarian Society (currently around $2,000 a year), Dance Away funds have paid for most of the equipment we use, including the Parish Hall sound system, an exhaust fan, a turntable, a preamplifier, a bike rack, head phones, a new mixer and amplifier, a sound limiter and two CD players. (Our second CD player was purchased with pool created by Dance Away DJ's at DJ Rob Lane's suggestion. - DJ Mike) n November 2002 the Unitarian Society paid for two new speakers, and Dance Away volunteers installed them.

In June, 1988, spontaneous drumming became a regular part of Dance Away. However, twice in August of 1992, police came to notify us of neighbors' complaints ("Loud drumming" and "bongo drums and excessive noise"). As a result,drumming was discontinued for a month while the committee searched for remedies: an earlier time (8:40 to 9:00 PM); hands only (no mallets); and a wooden board under each drum (to protect the floor), all of which are still in effect.

Dance Away has faced - and survived - several other crises. On March , 1984, some of the organ pipes were vandalized and Dance away was suspended for a month. The result was a paper-bag checking system for personal belongings: a security guard; two receptionists; and a sign-in sheet. In April of 1989, the Unitarian Board Of Trustees threatened to suspend Dance Away because of dwindling funds and dwindlng interest among church members. Immediately, Dance Away participants rallied with testimonial letters and helped create a complete reorganizing which included a new committee headed by Carl Magagnosc and the following statement of purpose:

"...to create a program that is more integrated into the structure of the Society, while retaining the variety of music, free-form dancing, and a atmosphere free of alcohol, tobacco smoke and other drugs. It is hoped that not only will Unitarian Society members become more familiar and comfortable with Dance Away will become more familiar with the Society"

Dance Away's most recent challenge began in June 2002 when the Unitarian Society board requested that DanceAway integrate more with Society members and announced that, in order to accommodate the needs of a rapidly growing Society, Dance Away would have to share Friday nights with other groups. After trying Dance Away on several Sundays, we agreed that only Fridays would work, and when other USSB events were scheduled in Parish Hall, we requested the smaller Jefferson Hall and rented a portable sound system. In the end, Dance Away was canceled only three times during 2002 and has emerged as a thriving community service.

Over the years, Dance Away has also sponsored several Special events. To celebrate their first anniversary, they held an all day dance workshop, followed by two dance nights, one with live music, and sold Dance Away T-shirts and tank tops. In 1980 they produced a flier with artwork designed by Terry Dahlstom. Dance Away has sponsored benefits for the Navajo and Hopi Indians at Big Mountain (1988); Summer Solstice; and the victims of the Painted Cave fire (July 1990); and of the Katrina hurricane in New Orleans (Dec. 9, 2005).

Between December 1982 and March 1995, Cindy Schneider served as Dance Away receptionist, then coordinator and finally manager. She and her family (Jacky Wolf and Connor) were an invaluable part of Dance Away during those years. Marjean Thornley was Manager from 1995 to January 1998 and Julia (who still serves as DJ) from 1998 to May 2000 when Shirley Grecian (who had been back-up manager since Nov. 1998) became the Friday-night manager and Peter Duffy, the Senior Manager (whose duties include scheduling and payroll as well as occasional Friday-night managing). He resigned in May, 2001, and from January, 2002, Allan Feld served as both Senior Manager, replacing Shiley Grecian, who has been on sick-leave since January, 2003. Our present Manager is Mike Thornley, who is also a DJ.

On behalf of the Unitarian Society and the Dance-Away Committee, I would like to thank all of the workers, planners, and dancers who have helped to make Dance Away a joyous happening for the last 30 years.