The parking lot is empty, as is the huge dance hall with a capacity of 1,200 people, which will remain empty until January 24. The three-week extension of the nightclub closure also concerns dancing teas. In Andouillé-Neuville, south of Sens-de-Bretagne (Ille-et-Vilaine), this announcement this Wednesday is “a stab in the back” for Dédé, the co-manager of Lutécia with Jeannine for 44 years.
The regulars are ready to “put on the mask to have their five hours of dancing”
“We’re not going to be yoyoing all our life, opening for three months and then closing for six months.” About ten events, scheduled for January and February, are canceled. The first was scheduled at the beginning of January. “My poor caterer, he had 2,500 meals canceled …” The phone rings almost a hundred times a day and you have to juggle all the checks from customers who had booked.
– Maxime Glorious
The reopening of the dance halls last July, after 16 months of closure, now seems very far away. “It was off again on the hats of wheels, with an atmosphere that we had rarely seen for years and years!” The mask was compulsory when traveling in the establishment and the control of the health pass was “very easy” according to the co-manager. “They are ready to put on the mask while dancing, it bothers them, but they would do it anyway to have their five hours of free time!”
We said that we were going to territorialize, go there on a case-by-case basis!
Because Dédé is convinced that dancing teas are necessary for the good health of regulars of Lutécia. “It’s gymnastics for these people. Doctors tell us that all of this should be reimbursed by Social Security.” These closed periods have an impact on the health of the couple. “That we become aware of the state of health of people, who are completely worn out, tired, hospitalized for some.” The possibility of turning the page sometimes crosses their minds.
– Maxime Glorious
The septuagenarian hoped that the government would an exception to the closures for dancing teas. “We said that we were going to territorialize, go there on a case-by-case basis! We could have noticed, like the gendarmes and staff from the prefecture who had come there, that there was nothing to fear.” Dédé regrets that wild parties take place when the discos are closed. “During the Lieuron rave party, there was no control! We must ban this kind of thing upstream, but we are not even capable. On the other hand, it is very easy to close the Lutécia. , despite the fact that the clientele is very legitimate. “
We adapted all the time, we are good people.
Waiting for, nearly 500 regulars at Lutécia will have to wait before returning to dance. For his part, Dédé hopes that the financial aid promised by the government will be respected. “We adapted all the time, all the time, we are good people, it’s called resilience”, slips the one who regrets that the night world, even when it takes place in the afternoon, is the first to close its doors when the epidemic starts to rise again.
– Maxime Glorious