Through the back wall of the gallery loomed a dark open space. I'd found it. Upon entering, I noticed this party wasn't exactly like my glory days on wheels. The overhead lights shine low so as not to disturb the mood of mystery. Colored beams run from the ceiling to the floor, swinging madly in a beat-driven frenzy.
Some people circle the perimeter.
Others perform hip-hop line routines on skates in the center. Voyeurs hang in the peripheries, chilling out on couches or spectating a group of breakdancers on the front end of the floor. Sloan and numerous others gather each week to practice choreography, some of which has a long history on the roads and in the rinks. Keep on Skatin' Rollerdance is a very American phenomenon that began in skating rinks across the country. It was passed down through generations by mentors in the rinks.