When you think of a ‘tea dance’, what image comes to mind?
If you’re like most people, it’s probably like something out of Downton Abbey or Pride and Prejudice: loads of posh types in fancy dresses and stuffy suits, sipping from dainty cups with their pinkies up while ballroom dancing.
You wouldn’t necessarily be wrong. ‘Tea dance’ does technically refer to a popular outing for suburban socialites in late 1800s and early 1900s Britain, where people did do and wear all of those things. The dances were typically held in the afternoon, occasionally outdoors when weather permitted, and were a more casual, lower-cost alternative to the balls typical in cities. Provided refreshments were similar to typical high tea fare: sandwiches, cake, fruit, biscuits… and, of course, tea. The entertainment was a bit more active though, as small live bands would play light classical music for attendees, who would sway and waltz together.
But you might be surprised to learn that there’s another type of event called a tea dance, one that’s crucially important to LGBTQ+ cultural history.
In the 1960s dance culture was thriving in nightclubs and bars, especially in larger cities. However, queer people were largely barred from engaging in these spaces if they wanted to be out and proud not only by cultural stigma, but by the law.
In New York serving alcohol to queer people fell under ‘disorderly conduct’ and was strictly prohibited. Queer drinkers could still technically consume alcohol, but any place that allowed them to revel together could potentially lose their liquor license, or even find itself raided by police. Dancing, kissing, wearing clothing ‘of the opposite sex’, or simply just gathering LGBTQ+ people together with the intention to share a drink was dangerous.
Enter Michael Fesco, the owner of a well known bar on Fire Island, a destination already steeped in queer history and culture. After a trip to England, where he noticed bars serving afternoon tea and scones, he got an idea. Without the alcohol, what could a gathering of queers be persecuted for? Thus, the gay tea dance was born.
The first one was a hit, adopting features typical of 1880s-era dances but with a queer twist, featuring popular music, snacks, and tea-serving drag queens. Tea dances provided not only a necessary place for the LGBTQ+ community to meet each other, but an alternative to a typical, boozy late night, as dances were typically hosted on Sunday afternoon. Festivities would usually conclude by 10pm, allowing attendees to catch the ferry back to the city and be in bed in time for work Monday morning.
The tea dance spread beyond New York to other American cities, where each venue and community had their own unique spin on the event. It even picked up traction abroad. In London, some Soho gay nightclubs began to start their Sundays in the afternoon, with lighter music and cocktails, before transitioning into a typical active club environment later in the evening. Other venues hosted more traditional dances, serving tea and cakes and leading crowds in waltzes, line dancing, and more.
The tradition’s popularity declined in the 90s, where legal protections and the popularity of club nights shifted focus to other gatherings. But, if you look, you’ll find many groups upholding this important queer cultural tradition to this day in cities around the globe, including cities in the U.K. like London and Brighton. These gatherings tend to focus on inclusivity, uniting LGBTQ+ people of every sort in a sober-leaning environment.
These days you’ll find less finger sandwiches and clotted cream, more bar snacks and light tipples, however one thing remains consistent: whether it be a Long Island or an Earl Grey, tea dances bring LGBTQ+ people together in the name of tea.
So, this LGBTQ+ history month, why not find a Sunday afternoon to celebrate this rich queer tradition by bringing together your queer friends for a cuppa and a groove?
