Sober dances can be fun

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Edmonton's Rising Sun Cafe and Sober Dance Club at 11748-95 Street plays the latest dance tunes, while the Alano Club at 9929-103 Street pumps music to suit both the older and younger crowd. Similarly, the Prairie Schooner Club at the Athlone Community League at 13010-129 Street includes the Reel of 8, Drops of Brandy and a foot stomping Red River Jig.

The geographical locations, the ages in the crowds, and the style of music may differ, but all three dance clubs have one thing in common: they are all sober and drug free.

As opposed to the early 1970s and early 1980s when "having a cool one" was a popular phrase, today more and more people dancing to high energy tunes or slow waltzes are sober and are not afraid to disclose that they are recovering alcoholics.

"When we are healing from alcohol addiction, our family is affected," said Joanne Rediron. "Our children can now join us at these dances so they can see that we can have fun without alcohol," she said.

On a typical Saturday night at the Rising Sun, the age range is from children to adults. By the time the clock strikes 10 p.m. the place is packed. Teens, adults and children dance to some of today's hottest pop, rock, reggae or country tunes.

Evian water bottles, styrofoam coffee cups and pop cans dot the close to 30 tables in the club.

The club provides low-risk social recreational activities to the community and has certain guidelines that must be followed. Teens have to be attended by a legal guardian and on weeknights they have to be out of the club by 10 o'clock.

"On Fridays and Saturdays they still have to attend the club with a legal guardian, and youth under the age of 16 have to leave the club by midnight," said Jim Nakano, director. "It is a clean and sober environment, so we make sure that nobody comes in under the influence of drugs or alcohol," he said.

The club hasn't had any problems since opening two years ago.

"The manager that runs the club ensures that it stays a safe and secure place. I think the people that use this club have reached that place in their lives where they want to reduce or eliminate their behaviors, be it drinking or drug use," said Nakano. "The club provides a way for youth and adults to meet people who are actually making positive changes in their lives," he said.

Nakano claims that a lot of good role models frequent the place.

"We have a lot of fairly well-known people that come here on a regular basis," he said.

Saturday evening's crowd at the Alano Club starts to come in around 10. The club has room for a couple of hundred people who pack the 400 sq. foot dance floor while dancing to music being pumped out from a stereo system.

"Everybody seems to be having a good time without drinking. It is a good sober dance," said Garret Bullchild, 29, from Browning, Montana. "I've been coming here since 1993. I like the music and the people that come here," he said.

While both the Rising Sun and the Alano hold their dances every weekend, the Prairie Schooner holds one every second Saturday. Musicians slowly begin to tune their guitars and fiddles and set up the stage area. At 9 p.m. the band starts, fiddle music fills the air and people begin to file onto the floor to dance.