Sweden will soon allow people to dance without a license
Calling every Swedish “Dancing Queen” to the dance floor!
Sweden’s government has moved to abolish one almost a century old law require establishments to obtain a permit for public dancing.
Since the 1930s, Sweden’s restaurants, nightclubs and venues have had to obtain a dance permit, a so-called “dance permit”, before allowing regulars to cut loose on the dance floor.
On January 12, the Swedish government proposed a new bill that would allow companies to regain their full rights for customers to cancel a move without a license.
Currently, business owners can lose both their liquor and business license if authorities catch patrons dancing on the premises. It costs 700 kroner (or about $67) to apply for a dance permit.
But if the new law is passed, establishments will be able to register for free with their local police.
“It is not reasonable for the state to regulate folk dance. By removing the requirement for a dance permit, we also reduce the bureaucracy and costs for entrepreneurs and others who organize dances, says Sweden’s Minister of Justice Gunnar Strömmer in a government statement, according to Unbiased Press.
Watch ABBA’s “Dancing Queen” music video:
It is not the first time Sweden has tried to abolish the long-standing law.
In 2016, Sweden’s Riksdag voted unanimously to abolish the “outdated” and “moralistic” dance license law. However, the regulation remained.
Swedish media and companies hope that the new bill will be passed successfully with the approval of the Riksdag. Lawmakers have proposed that the change take effect on July 1.