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15th October 1993 (approx)
Pages
8 (A5 B&W)
Strapline
TRUSS HOUSE FORTE
The Cycles of life go round, In-ter-Dance at Sterns has gone full circle, time for a change!!!
In 1990 sterns saw change!!! After the initial media outcry brought about by the M25 raves and illegal warehouse parties. driven by the explosion of house and dance music, and combined with the eagerness of the youth to party all night, a new breed of promoter emerged. Mensa was one of these and from small one-off events in Bognor Regis, formed In-Ter-Dance. With the help of a Government Enterprise Allowance and the finding of Sterns, the ideal venue to take the illegality away from the initial house music dance parties, a south coast scene started to emerge. After a successful one-off all night party in the June of 1990, January 1991 saw the beginning of a once monthly all-night party at sterns, and with the initial co-operation of police and council Sterns achieved national acclaim and became one of the safest places to party in the country. This also alleviated the local problem of illegal parties and in the August of ‘91 the council and police asked the then licencee (Mr Derek Talbot) if he would be prepared to hold weekly all night events. Of course, we jumped at the chance and the rest of ‘91 was certainly a tear to be remembered. So far so good!
Everything that becomes successful attracts attention and in 1992 sterns attracted some bad attention. The first of two police operations that would result in a media panic suggesting that Sterns was the main focal point for drugs on the south coast. After this time things got progressively worse. The all-night licence was withdrawn and we were back to two o’clock causing problems with the local community with a string of complaints regarding the noise of our patrons congregating wherever trying to find somewhere to carry on partying, none of which had been the case when it was all night and people were going home satisfied. A dilemma that was not of our making.
Well, I started writing this just before heading off to Sterns on what would probably be the last time In-Ter-Dance would grace its walls. Now some time later, after what turned out to be a very highly charged, emotionally uplifting experience, bordering on revolution. A unity was achieved thats message was freedom. Freedom from social hypocrisy, freedom of choice and finally freedom to party. Music and dance combined, help us to express our innermost hopes and fears. We dance to rid ourselves of the confusion that prevails on a global level. we dance to forget!
But let us not forget Sterns, for change is coming soon. We must look to the past with view to the future and adapt, not conform, more to find a common ground. We speak the same language after ali. So lets talk! We must for if the social divide between the generation of then, becomes much wider. Just think what could happen when in twenty to thirty years time it’s our turn to take control. That sort of drastic change could be the beginning of a beautiful and positive world for all of us to live on.
So fear not people. For this is not the end, this is the beginning. For life goes in cycles, and we’re just about to start a new revolution!!!
FREEDOM
Thoughts of the real M.C

