Since 1926, the city of New York (of all places) has restricted public dancing. According to an antiquated statute, it’s necessary for any public establishment to have a special permit if more than three people are going to be shaking their thang. For the most part, the outdated cabaret law was rarely enforced—until Rudy came along. Giuliani made it a point of pride to shut down establishments where anyone was having fun by moving their booty. The nightlife situation under Bloomberg hasn’t gotten much better—which was one reason for the first annual New York Dance Parade down Fifth Avenue on Saturday the 19th of May.

Alas, adding insult to injury, Mother Nature decided to dump on the dancers—as if that could stop the grooving. While the rain did diminish the crowds along the parade route, there were still plenty of dancers in Washington Square—onstage and around the fountain. Dancers of all ages, and color, and costume, and style—proving yet again, that when the music’s got you moving, they ain’t no stoppin’ us. Take that, State Supreme Court—and get with the program.