The Dance Ban is Dead: West Jordan City Council Deletes Footloose Era Code

Right out of Footloose, City Code used to have strict rules when it came to public dances and dance studios.

Title 4, Chapter 2, Article K said if there was a public dance you had to:

• Stop dancing before 2:00 A.M. and not start again before 8:00 A.M.
• You had to have an adult with you if you were under 16.
• There had to be lighting at least 5 feet above floor level throughout the building and all seating areas had to be open in full view of the main dance floor.
• You couldn't leave the dance area without paying full price to get back in.

The City Council discussed the code during a Committee of the Whole in late March and brought it to a public meeting for an official decision on April 14.

"Nobody at the city remembers this ever having been applied for or granted," Senior Assistant City Attorney Patrick Boice said to the City Council.

"It's something from a bygone era, much like the farms and dances that used to occur from people moving into our city, from New York and L.A. and other spots, bringing their spontaneous dance moves in freewheeling spirit."

Every council member voted "yes" to fully delete the code. There are no longer special rules for hosting a dance, beyond normal business or event licensing.

Council Chair Bob Bedore said, "We can now go to the Lehi Roller Mills."