‘I dare you to be real’

Buffalo has no shortage when it comes to alternative music scenes, from a bustling hardcore scene to a blooming screamo scene. When it comes to the goth scene, though, it can feel a little restricted — especially for those under the age of 21. While there are many goth events and venues around Buffalo, such as the Merry Shelley and Revolution Gallery on Hertel Ave. or Nietzsche's on Allen St., they tend to exclusively hold 21+ events. 

There’s nothing wrong with events for adults only, of course. They need space to be authentically themselves without the need to censor for a younger audience; the only issue is that there aren’t many places that are age-inclusive.

Fortunately, there are still several things young gothic teenagers can still do to find their community, and one of these options is Danceteria. Amy’s Place — also known as Area 54 —  is a cafe and a music venue that hosts plenty of all-ages events weekly, near UB’s South Campus.

Organized by Rin Chand, a Buffalo local, artist and vocalist for the Buffalo-based Deathrock band Rākṣasa, and booked by Bloodlines, Danceteria is an all-ages event created to bridge the gap between younger and older goths, and to give young goths a chance to dance freely. It creates the opportunity to truly understand what it means to be a goth, aesthetically and politically, by interacting with others in the community and building space for themselves. Which Chand makes clear by stating, “I’m using Danceteria as a sort of tool to communicate some of these political ideas, create a space safe, and to do some of the reclamation work that we need to progress, especially goths of color.”

Chand and many others feel as though an event for younger goths is needed, particularly when aiding younger goths through the necessary but awkward phases that first come with exploring a new look or identity, 

Younger goths often feel as though they’re going to be ridiculed by others, specifically by older and more experienced goths.

“Kids today want to double down and prove what they are,” Chand says, “they want to be like: look at how much of this I am, or how much of that I am.”

Teenagers are already unlikely to want to go through the awkward stages as they are, and even more so when they don’t have the space to do it. 

The next Danceteria is set to take place on July 18 with a gothic literature theme. As always, there will be plenty of music from DJs and live bands, a “very staunchly a gothrock and deathrock oriented night.” The night will be complete with an on-theme book exchange and a volunteer-led raffle, which can be entered into by bringing canned goods for Food Not Bombs, a food recovery group. 

There is much in store for us younger goths here, with plans of a bookclub, a penpaling system and more. 

Although it is enticing to sit back and watch the posts advertising these events roll by, it’s important for us to not rely too heavily on others to get us the scene we want to see. Instead, we should learn from them and use that to shape and change the scene, allowing us and the younger generations to be able to enjoy our identities. 

“Why do I have to do it?” is the question Chand and many others are often faced with when trying to find their space, and he answers this with a reminder that “no one else is going to do it. If you have a specific vision in your mind, put that into the world.” 

Not only that, but creating space for yourself forces you to engage with your community in much deeper ways.

Though he is the face of Danceteria, Chand makes it clear that it  will never be only him working behind the scenes to make Dancteria what it is: “I can’t take all the credit for Danceteria in my soul. It’s my baby, but everyone that helps is what makes it great!”

Danceteria would not be where it is without the help of the community, volunteers, and the dancers that show up and make it lively. 

It’s especially important for those different, whether it be because of their aesthetics, race, gender, whatever may be the case, to force room for themselves, as it would not be given otherwise. 

Chand would like to shout out DJs Osiris, Cainite, Graveflower and Melpirebat for being there for the first year of Danceteria and for making it sound as beautiful as it does.

The arts desk can be reached at arts@ubspectrum.com