As temperatures begin to rise and classes come to a close, patrons will flock to the bars as their responsibilities dwindle. After all, what more could you expect from a party school? 

However, the action within the bars is much less thrilling than the hazy and colorful scenes that once dominated Champaign. 

While dancing used to rule the nightlife of college campuses, it is now probably the last thing that you’d see on the floor of University bars like KAMS or The Red Lion. Perhaps it is faulty environments or just a change of the times, but one thing is certain: Dancing is out. 

In the ’80s, establishments like Chester Street bar — a former LGBTQ+ nightclub that closed in 2017 — promised endless nights of dance and expression for those of any sexual orientation. However, it would appear that no bar or club has filled this dancing void for Gen-Z students.

Although Anthem, another LGBTQ+ bar that opened in January 2024, has created a new space for the queer community, it hasn’t become as integrated into the staple of bars frequented by students. This could be for a plethora of reasons, most likely being that it is further away from Campustown, which might discourage the usual crowd of bar-goers. 

While it would be nice to have a space dedicated to dancing, this also begs the question of why people aren’t just dancing at the bars on campus, pointing to a bigger cultural shift in music and atmosphere.

The image of dance clubs that we’re familiar with first emerged in the ’60s and ’70s, a frenzied product of liberation, camp and perhaps the most influential of all — disco.

Disco is often reduced to the image of polyester suits and flower power, but within the genre lies a far more rebellious tale. This music acted as a sounding board for the racism and homophobia that people were experiencing in their everyday lives. It was both a rejection of the norm and a celebration of the marginalized.

In 1971, same-sex dancing was legalized and provided a space for queer individuals to let loose and express themselves. This only encouraged an already growing dance movement, which would alter pop culture forever. 

In recent years, there are still artists who take inspiration from this dance-music genre — many have noted disco influences in the works of Dua Lipa and The Weeknd — individuals who value creating music free of restraint. However, many bars often opt to instead play melodically lacking background soundtracks for conversation. 

Although the occasional party starter will grace the speakers, they’re usually reserved for a themed night or sandwiched between an ever-growing list of other songs. There’s also the fact that most hired DJs are men and tend to play male artists, which could be its own conversation entirely.

Instead of music leading the party, it is now simply a limb for establishments to lean on when necessary. 

There may have just been a generational shift away from going out to dance. We are a generation that has become increasingly more reliant on digital connections. It isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does fill the social need that past generations used to satisfy with nightlife.

Social media also plays a part in the suspended reality of nightlife. Where it used to be easy to lose yourself and your inhibitions for a night, you now have to consider the possibility of your peers judging your actions. 

This has always been true to some extent, but certainly not at the scale that social media modulates, especially in a time when it is so normalized to film people you don’t know personally. 

There is also a chance that we are nostalgic for a time that has been romanticized extensively in our brains. In our early 20s, we want to live in extremes and feel as alive as humanly possible. It is easier than accepting that there are parts of adulthood that might disappoint us.

However, it might just be this mental block that prevents us from acknowledging the possibility that dance could become a pastime on campus if we just modified it to fit our generation’s nightlife. 

For example, musically themed nights at the bars are a great way to attract a crowd that is passionate about the music being played. 

Line dancing has also been a staple of dance for many different cultures — and for good reason. A set of moves that are easy to learn helps contribute to a less intimidating ambiance and encourages people to join in.

I can’t be certain that any of these choices are the solution to barren dance floors and frat flicking, but I hope they might lead to a nightlife that can once again transform sticky bar floors and mediocre drinks into a community.

Hailey is a junior in Business.

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