That Nude Dance Party on Kenmare Street Was a ‘Looping’ Event

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Photo: Matthew Silver

Last Saturday, a nude dance party on Kenmare Street had many people scratching their heads (and maybe other areas) as to what the fuck was going on. Performance artist, and co-ringleader, Matthew Silver recruited a posse of ten people to get naked and engage in two hours of improvised performance outside the Rivington Design House.

One of the participants was Cassidy Dawn Graves, who penned a piece about her experience for NYU Local. She explains that the happening was basically a new twist on “Looping,” a micro-movement invented by Silver and co-conspirator Fritz Donnelly in which “playful” situations are spontaneously created on the streets. That usually means crazy outfits and shenanigans. Or in this case, none of the former.

The cops did show up, but reportedly let it happen…

With constant stories of painted Times Square “desnudas” getting in trouble with the law and Mayor Bill De Blasio creating an actual “Task Force To Curb Topless Individuals,” dealing with the police was a concern for the Looping performers. Luckily, however, public nudity is legal in New York City when the nude are “entertaining or performing in a play, exhibition, [or] show.” The Loopers came prepared with a lawyer in case anything went awry, but in general the police made their presence known but only focused on dispersing the large crowd that had gathered.