Everybody dance now? - A socio-legal study of the Swedish dance permit

Abstract: Since the 1930s, a dance permit regulation has been in effect in Sweden. The dance permit is required for public dance events in Sweden, and police may take photographic evidence of patrons moving in sync with the music in a dance-like fashion if they believe that ‘illegal’ dancing has transpired in an establishment that may not have filed for a dance permit. If such is the case, then this evidence may serve in proving that a crime has occurred and that the establishment does not have the required permit. In 2016, the Swedish Riksdag voted unanimously to abolish the dance permit requirement, however, the law is still in effect and exists as of writing this thesis. Therefore, this study aims to examine how the permit is perceived by individuals who are either affected by it or responsible for its regulation and enforcement. For this purpose, ethnographic fieldwork has been conducted in March 2022. In addition to this, participant observations and unstructured interviews have been carried out as well. Thus, this study finds that the dance permit is regarded in a negative manner by individuals who are affected by it and those who enforce it. It further argues that the dance permit is still enforced due to a disparaging dichotomy in how the law is written in contrast to how it is actually carried out and that this has to do with a ‘bureaucratic laziness’ to not update/change outdated legislation, but re-use it so as not to draft new time/energy-consuming legislation. Simoultanisly, this study claims that the longevity of the permit results in the contrast between ‘living law’ and legal law. The study concludes by arguing further examination and research have to be made in order to fully be able to stipulate a concrete decision on the dance permit’s continuation.