 Another
quality page linked to Jim's Pen
is
Central! |
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Another
quality page linked to Jim's Pen
is
Central! |
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'm
sitting here in West Hollywood with Jennifer
and Susan, who were
at the first Moonshine tip a few years ago in Phoenix. Let me start
by asking you a provocative question: what were two nice girls like
you doing in a place like that?
S: I'm a nudist at heart. I've been an nudist since I was born.
J: Pretty much!
S: So for me it was a natural thing to dance without clothes with people I normally dance with my clothes on. And it was hotter than hell and we wanted to cool off.
o
what was the sequence of events? What happened?
J: Oh it was hot that weekend, and somebody said we should go dance naked, and a bunch of people said "Yeah!" And so we took it to heart, we found a place to do it, and then started getting people to say yes or no for sure. And the 8 million who had said sure suddenly vanished and it dwindled down to a much smaller number.
S: Actually about 7, because the hosts were not planning to dance; they were brand new dancers and were willing to offer their home. Eventually they agreed to dance if we could just call Basic and Mainstream [the two easiest skill levels in square dancing]. Then one of the seven had to leave on a date, so we had 6 plus the two hosts. Then there was Bill -- who was calling -- and his partner Jim. Bill kept his clothes on.
So it was you two and six guys?
S: Yes.
hat's
happened to the tradition since then?
J: It's bloomed (S) and blossomed and exploded beyond anything we've ever conceived of! J: The first and second Moonshines were at Phoenix -- (S) Albuquerque was the first Convention that they had one at, and Bill Eyler called it. (They discuss a bit more.) JJ called that one after that. At the very first one, Bill set up a great winding labyrinth at the entrance to the hall so that more dancers could get in at any time without anyone being able to see from outside. We quickly found the floor jam packed, and then the Honky Tonk Queen contest got over, and this HUGE wave of people started coming up the steps. J: So somebody went over to the Mainstream hall -- S: and they agreed to switch halls with us, So all the people who had their clothes off just ran behind the human wall we had created (see Bill's and Richard's interviews) and there were... J: a total of about 200, and it had a life of its own at that point. S: We wanted it to be at fly-ins and conventions, bigger than just a local interest.
hat's
the biggest thing about it that makes it fun for you?
S: I think we have separate answers for that. What's it for you?
J: I never thought of that before. (She thinks for a bit.) It's almost like it's a different type of dancing, and that's what's fun, and I never realized that until we started getting into it. (What's different about it?) It seems to be a lot more fun. people are more free and relaxed -- S: No pun intended! -- J: it's a lot more fun, not that this isn't fun, but it's a different fun. S: People who otherwise might not try nudism try nudism in a safe environment [at a Moonshine tip] and they find it's not quite as scary as they thought. Before this they would never have dared to go to a nudist facility, but here it's not about being in great shape and being seen, it's about getting together and having fun and dancing. For me it would be cool if you could have permanent clothing optional neighborhoods, so this is a small step towards that.
Can I sign up?
S: Sure!
hat's
the biggest fun for you?
S: It's creating a safe space for people to not be worried about taking their clothes off. It's activist-oriented for me.
ow
I've mentioned that my page focuses on MEN dancing naked... but
that's not because men are more important.
S: There's a more organized male nudist philosophy than there is a women's nudist organization per se. I wish -- (pause) there are obviously heterosexual places that welcome both genders, and it would be really nice if we could put together a nudist weekend for both genders. We just haven't had the time to do that yet.
J: Kind of like the Peel Off, but for both genders.
S: There are a lot of men who've never seen a naked women, and it's an educational opportunity J: for them.
S: At one Chicago fly-in there were a few men who said they'd never seen a naked woman before -- but because they knew us and knew we would be there, they came and danced.
J: Just like with the men, there are some women who don't want to dance with naked men, but there are others who don't mind.
From the rumors I've heard, some women's music festivals amount to almost a clothing optional experience....?
S: You know, at women's festivals I haven't heard of one that wasn't clothing optional -- at least tops optional, otherwise you have to worry about what you sit on. Unfortunately we've never been to one (S touches J's shoulder) J: Just one of those things!
hat's
the funniest thing that's ever happened at a Moonshine tip?
J: For me, it was in Albuquerque when we formed that human wall and everybody swapped rooms. S: For me, Portland. There was a straight caller who came in first to dance, and then he came up onstage. He got partway through the dance (calling)... S: and he gets up there and there are none of the usual visual cues -- it's a totally different experience from up here, he said. J: You can't use the normal physical cues -- S: people are mostly just shades of flesh. [This point is also brought out in the caller's interview.]
J: Then there was that time at the A&C fly-in [Advanced and Challenge level square dancers]. S: They had a two-way radio up behind the callers, and we're starting to dance, and it's in a hotel suite. Suddenly we heard over the radio that "Security is on their way to suite so-and-so -- OUR suite! Well, you NEVER saw people LEAP into their clothes faster, sort of like the Keystone Cops.
J: And the caller was the fastest, putting on his clothes and leaving -- I think he was the first one out the door. And so it was funny, really funny.
So did anybody get in trouble?
S: No it was a false alarm. J: Actually, someone was just kidding, joking around. S: It was not funny that the event got canceled, but watching people's reactions was fun. J: But we had gotten in one tip [dance] at least, so...
hat's
the most upsetting thing that's ever happened?
S: Somebody tried to sneak a camera in. I had had conversations with this person which made it clear that cameras were not allowed. The fellow in question was not a dancer, but if they're naked they're allowed. Then a staff person heard the camera doing its auto wind thing (between frames), so we had to escort him out and take his film. That he was willing to jeopardize all of these people's fun just for his little quirks is offensive.
What would you say to men who are thinking of going to a Moonshine tip?
(Both) Come on down!
And to women?
(Both) Come on down!
nything
else you want to say?
It's fun, it's meant to be fun, and it's a safe place to do it!
Thank you very much.
You're welcome!
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