About the Living Room and DANCE

The Living Room is a club where each week some form of entertainment takes place for the youth of this community. DANCE is the non-profit organization who sponsors these events.

DANCE is an acronym for Drug Alternative Nights & Counseling Events. The purpose of the organization is to provide weekly events that are drug and alcohol free. All youth are invited and encouraged to attend. DANCE has been in existence since 1993, and in March of 1994 moved into the old UFCW building at 7190 Hollister Avenue. A contest was held to give the club a name, and the Living Room was chosen.

Larry Mills is the founder and current president of DANCE. He has five children, ranging from elementary school to college. After becoming more involved in the community, he recognized the limited activities for the young people. This caused him to reflect back to his youth. He remembered the youth centers that he frequented, and felt impressed to establish one here. In early 1993, he got together with several community minded people, including Brian Nelson, and active member of the Kiwanis Club, and formed the organization and spearheaded the drive.

The Living Room is sponsored by the organization DANCE. DANCE provides the liability insurance, supervision, operating money, and overall direction for these events. The organization consists of two working committees: an adult and a youth advisory group. The weekly events are suggested and planned by the youth. the adults provide the overall direction.

We have taken a new approach in dealing with the youth. Instead of smothering them with our rules, restrictions, and supervision, we have empowered them to provide that. they have set the rules and the guidelines on how the club operates. they provide many of the functions such as working the door, providing security inside the club, and control of the events. The adults assist the youth and mainly concentrate on he security outside the facility. It is much more effective to have a peer tell you your out of line that an adult who your trying to get away from in the first place. This is probably why we have had almost no problems inside the club to date.

The weekly events are primarily music oriented (bands & DJs). They are held almost every Friday and Saturday nights, and on special occasions. Every event is open to the public, and no one is restricted from attending unless they can not play by two simple rules: no drugs or alcohol, and respect the property and those around you. those attending range in age from 14 to 25, although it is mainly high school and early college age who attend.

Since the youth are basically running the events, it is very low key and non threatening. It is a very relaxed atmosphere, and those attending give it rave reviews. For many, this is the only place they can go to hear their favorite band. For others, it is a place they can go and enjoy the music without all the beer. What a concept: sober music. It's amazing how much fun you can really have sober. And a special not from the bands: they really enjoy playing at the club because they know that the audience is there to hear them play, not drink.

The Living Room is for all of the youth of this community. Everyone is welcomed. You will receive a club card the first time you come, which has the rules and the hotline number on the back. If you have any further questions, or concerns, please feel free to call us at the club, at (805) 692-8550.