Turn on the television, log onto TikTok, or go shopping at any clothing store and you’ll feel a bit like you’re living in a time machine: Everything, these days, seems like a reboot or a throwback. And in New York City, this perma-retro sensibility has spilled over into the world of recreation, too, where people are newly discovering old ways of having fun. There is no greater example of this than the resurgence of roller-discos, where both amateurs and professionals alike gather for wholesome fun sound-tracked to disco and R&B hits from the 1970s and 1980s. All across the city, skaters are discovering or rediscovering the special magic of the roller disco and its intoxicating mix of physicality, glamour, and community.
Roller skates were invented centuries ago, but their identity was cemented in the late 1970s and early 1980s during the disco craze. There was something about the steady funk and exuberance of disco that lent itself perfectly to a particular hybrid of skating and dancing that people liked to call “jammin.’” The elevation of the skates and the gliding motion of roller-skating helped accentuate the era’s most extravagant fashions, and roller rinks became the preferred hangout spot for local communities and the glitterati alike. Roller-skating was the rarest kind of activity: Something that was both wholesome and glamorous at the same time. Spots like Empire Rollerdome in Brooklyn and Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace in Los Angeles were suddenly the hottest nightclubs in town, drawing everyone from Cher and Grace Jones to Prince and Elton John. Nowadays, the image of the roller-disco is indelible in culture, from Ron Galella’s iconic ‘70s roller-disco photographs to Heather Graham’s rollergirl moment in Boogie Nights to Beyonce gliding on skates in the joyful, day-glo video for her 2017 disco-pop jam “Blow.” Skating has long been revolulationary, too, with rinks around America serving as hubs of culture and safe havens for Black and queer communities; the history of Black roller-skating in America is so rich that it was even chronicled in an Emmy-nominated HBO documentary, 2019’s “United Skates.”
The popularity of roller discos has waxed and waned in recent decades, but ever since the dawn of the pandemic, when people started lacing up their skates as they yearned for socially-distanced ways to enjoy themselves, they’re back and booming. Roller-skating videos have started blowing up on TikTok and Instagram, with talented skaters like Berlin’s Oumi Janta becoming bonafide online celebrities. Janta’s skate videos have racked up hundreds of millions of views, and earned her an Adidas ambassadorship and representation by IMG models—not to mention, they’ve surely inspired a tidal wave of her followers to get curious about roller skating. Heather Graham even recreated her Boogie Nights rollergirl days on TikTok.
Even as life returns to a state of normalcy in New York City, the roller-disco wave appears to be sticking around, as well-heeled crowds flock to skate nights both established and new. Half of the joy of roller-disco is watching experienced skaters jam out, freestyling to any song that comes on the sound system— they almost seem to be walking on water. But New York’s contemporary skate scene is famously inclusive, and newbies are generally welcome at any skating event. For the true first-timers, many roller-discos have seasoned instructors who will show you the ropes, like Skaterobics’ Tanya Dean, who teaches classes at skate events like Rock the Skate at St. John’s Recreational Center in Brooklyn on Sundays, and DiscOasis in Central Park.
Once you feel comfortable with the basics, there are scores of skating options in every borough. For those in the beating heart of Midtown Manhattan, there’s Flipper’s Roller Boogie Palace in Rockerfeller Center. Don’t be scared off by the uber-touristy location—opened just a few months ago, this rink is owned and operated by none other than the original Flipper’s family of 1970s roller-disco greatness. Here you’ll find all sorts of community-oriented events and workshops, as well as a shop with thoughtfully designed merchandise. And if you need reminding that roller-skating is a fantastic opportunity to take a break from your phone, Flipper’s mantra is “LESS SCROLL MORE ROLL.” A London Flipper’s outpost is coming soon, too!
Just ten blocks north you’ll find Central Park’s ode to the 1970s in the form of DiscOasis at Wollman Rink, the city’s official ode to the roller-disco craze. This is a highly curated, extravagant version of city skating, complete with playlists specially curated by Nile Rodgers himself. DiscOasis is such an ambitious undertaking that even Madonna laced up here to celebrate the release of her new album alongside Rodgers at a recent skate night. Professional skaters are brought in every session to show off their bona fides, decked out in plentiful sequins, fringe, bell bottoms, and fantastical hats. Like skateboarders and surfers, these roller-dancers have an awe-inspiring (and enviable) grace about them that might have you contemplating a career change.
For those interested in a slightly more relaxed, less Disney-fied version of roller disco, head to 110 Kosciuzso Street in Bedstuy on Wednesday and Friday nights. Here in this converted community gym, watching the skaters jam out is almost as gratifying as lacing up your own skates—you’ll see veteran skaters and talented Gen Z newcomers alike practicing some of the most epic roller-dance routines in the city. Local DJs play a blend of disco and old-school hip-hop, creating an endless groove that lasts until midnight. Lessons and workshops are available for newbies, too. A few miles away on the A/C train in Brooklyn is the rink on Pier 2 at Brooklyn Bridge Park. It’s not always disco, but when it is, it offers a glorious, family-friendly opportunity to rollerskate in the fresh air, just overlooking the East River. Prospect Park has a similar option at the rink at LeFrak Center, which hosts seasonal roller disco nights in addition to daily skating options.
Of course, roller skating can happen anywhere if you decide to invest in a pair of your own skates. For those with fitness in mind, it’s an ideal way to check out various parts of the city. But there’s also no better way to roller skate than with a group of strangers, all moving together to the same music. Whether you’re a novice or an expert, decked out in ostentatious gear or wearing sweats, there’s an organic flow to a group of roller-skaters that makes for a mesmerizing and exhilarating way to spend an evening— for everyone.
