Yousef Helps Pave the Way Back to the Dancefloor in the UK
Wishing our pals and Circus promoters Yousef and Rich McGinnis all the success in the world this weekend. They’re throwing The First Dance – the first legal clubbing event in the UK since Covid hit. Around 3000 clubbers will descend on Liverpool’s Bramley Moore Dock today and tomorrow and go ape.
The two-day event with no social distancing and no mask mandate is part of a UK government pilot programme to find a safe way forward for the events industry. Clubbers must have a negative lateral flow test result for entry. They will be asked to take a same day PCR test and another five days later too, although the PCR tests are not mandatory.
“The work, time and effort that has gone into putting this together from a huge range of unbelievably skilled professionals can’t be over exaggerated,” said DJ and producer Yousef.
Scientific Data
The UK is pinning its hopes on returning to ‘normal life’ on 21st June. However, nightclubs may need to demand some form of Covid certification to grant entry. With researchers studying crowd interaction and behaviour, The First Dance will generate key scientific data and research. The results will contribute to a blueprint for small and large-scale events to reopen safely.
The First Dance is making headlines – and rightly so – with Yousef interviewed by Bloomberg among other media outlets. The Circus Recordings boss told Bloomberg the pilot event was “extremely significant for all sorts of reasons”. He added: “The DJs, the artists, the people who work behind the scenes, everybody just wants to get back to work and become self-sufficient again.” Watch Yousef’s Bloomberg interview here.
The Line-Up
Running across today (Friday 30 April) and tomorrow, The First Dance kicks off from 2pm until 11pm both days. Sven Väth, The Blessed Madonna, Yousef, Jayda G, Lauren Lo Sung and Lewis Boardman will rock the joint today. Tomorrow finds Fatboy Slim, Yousef, Hot Since 82, Enzo Siragusa, Heidi, Jaguar and James Organ on deck duty.
Historic Moment
“I believe in science so I’m proud and deeply humbled to be a part of this historic moment,” said The Blessed Madonna. “The evidence we help provide will be shared widely so that many kinds of venues can safely prepare to welcome guests again. This is the first dance but not the last.”
Sven Väth echoed those sentiments, saying: “We all hope this paves a safe way back to the dancefloor.”
Here in the UAE, we’re all anxious to find out when we can get back to the dancefloor too. Here’s hoping we don’t have to wait much longer.
Also read: Organisers Gearing Up for “Glorious Return” of Burning Man in 2022
