For nearly three decades, the Sundance Stompede was more than just a dance event. It was a home, a haven, and a heartbeat of LGBTQ country-western culture in San Francisco. Now, the story of its final bow is being told on the big screen.
The San Francisco Dance Film Festival will host the world premiere of “Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede” on April 26 at Brava Theater Center, offering a poignant tribute to a community that built joy and belonging through dance.
Directed by Graham Clayton-Chance, the documentary captures the last Sundance Stompede held in November 2023, and weaves together reflections from founder Ingu Yun and 15 participants as they celebrate the legacy of an event that defied expectations and created a space where everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, or skill level, felt free to be themselves.
“The Stompede derived its culture of welcoming acceptance from our weekly event, the Sundance Saloon,” Yun said. “Everyone dances with everyone else. It’s truly a place where folks can feel they belong, even if it’s their first time. And there is so much joy.”
The film is a reminder of how dance can be a vehicle for survival, celebration, and change in LGBTQ spaces.
Deep connections
The documentary itself is a beautifully shot and meticulously pieced-together tribute, featuring stunning cinematography, warm and vibrant color grading, and a diverse set of interviews that capture the deep emotional connection so many had to the event. It truly immerses audiences in the joy and spirit of the Stompede.
Its roots trace back to a serendipitous beginning. In 1996, Ingu Yun hosted what was meant to be a big birthday party, inviting his friends and encouraging them to invite their friends.
What started as a simple gathering quickly transformed into a much-needed space for LGBTQ people to come together through dance at a time when safe spaces for same-gender dance partners were rare.
Founded as a single-night fundraiser for the AIDS Emergency Fund, the Stompede grew into a cornerstone of queer country-western dancing, drawing hundreds of people each year from around the world.
“Never in a million years did I imagine it would become such an institution,” Yun admitted. “In fact, after that first benefit event, I didn’t think there would even be a second.”
Cherished tradition
But as the event expanded into a multi-day festival featuring workshops and social dances, it became a cherished tradition.
“There was an energy to the weekend that none of us had ever experienced before,” Yun recalled.
One of the most powerful aspects of the final Stompede was its intentional departure from the rigid gender roles traditionally found in country-western dance. While line dancing and square dancing have historically followed heteronormative conventions, designating men as leaders and women as followers, the Stompede embraced a fully degendered approach.
Here, dancers were simply leaders and followers, allowing for greater inclusivity and fluidity on the dance floor. This philosophy reinforced the event’s broader mission of acceptance and belonging, making it a safe and welcoming space for the LGBTQ community.
The Stompede also provided an alternative space for queer people to find community outside of the traditional party and nightlife scene. This made it particularly meaningful for those seeking a sober, intergenerational, and movement-based way to build relationships and belong.
“It was exciting to know that a record of the last Stompede would be preserved,” Yun said. “I think the attendees that year were also thrilled about it. We went about our dancing as we always had.”
Among the many touching moments in “Last Dance” is the story of Chris Baines and Skip Davis, an interracial couple who found love on the dance floor, from meeting while dancing to getting engaged and eventually married on the dance floor. While their journey is just one vignette of the profound connections fostered by the Stompede, they were the only couple to have married at the Stompede, making their love story a unique and cherished part of the event’s legacy.
“I hope that people see that if we can be welcoming, inclusive, accepting, and basically just kind to one another, that something magical can emerge,” Yun said. “It doesn’t have to be through dance. It can be any activity or cause, or even everyday life.”
It’s a love letter to the LGBTQ community’s ability to create chosen families and carve out spaces of belonging, even in unexpected places like a country-western dance hall.
The April 26 screening will offer audiences a chance to witness the magic of the Stompede and reflect on the power of queer community-building. And while the Stompede may be over, the dance isn’t done just yet.
“Sundance Saloon still offers dancing with lessons every Sunday and Thursday and maintains the same spirit as the Stompede, just on a smaller scale,” Yun said. “And the biggest surprise is that we’re going to host a major event in Reno, Nevada in October as a part of the World Gay Rodeo Finals.”
‘Last Dance at the Sundance Stompede,’ $30.65-$46.65, Saturday, April 26, (5:30pm reception, line dancing; 7pm screening, then Q&A and lobby reception), Brava Theater Center, 2781 24th St.
www.sfdancefilmfest.org
www.lastdancefilm.co
www.sundancesaloon.org
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