noizemagazine - Index

noizemagazine - noiZe Magazine Issue 59 February 2009 - Index

he initiated a string of successful
parties and clubs. His first event at
the Palace (now Avalon) brought in
1,800 guys. Based on that success,
he was invited to check out The
Dinah Shore Weekend, a party for
the gals in the Desert during the
Dinah Shore Golf Tournament.
When he saw the main event consisted
of four speakers and a few
balloons, he knew he could do better.
His first event was called Wet
and Wild and attracted 500 guys.
One DJ, Manny Lehman, played all
the parties. A year later he changed
the name to White Party and its
popularity exploded. Today, nearly
20,000 people descend on the
town during White Party Week. It
takes over 300 workers and $1 million
to produce this marathon of
dance and camaraderie.
When asked about the future of
the gay dance scene, Sanker would
like to remind the new generation that
the gay community has always danced.
Dance has been an important element
of socializing and feeling a sense of
community. He hopes that with themes
younger boys can relate to and their
favorite DJs, he can continue to attract
them to a big event like White Party.
Once there, he feels they will embrace
and understand our communal need to
dance and will propel the scene into the
future.
So what if some of the older Circuit boys
are doing cruises rather than parties
these days? Or that the younger generation
is restlessly looking for something
different? Sanker has continued to be
successful in creating the best club and
party experience possible—and that’s
what he intends to do, wherever the
prevailing winds blow. By doing so he
keeps reminding us of our need to connect
in the place that has always been
an integral part of the gay experience:
the dance floor.
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Happy Am I! Healthy Am I! holy Am I!