Hochul wants to undo old NYS law that blocks dancing in restaurants

She wants a dance dance revolution.

Gov. Kathy Hochul plans to undo an old “Footloose!”-style state law that makes it illegal to dance in some restaurants and bars.

The governor’s 2026 State of the State policy book released ahead of her Tuesday speech said Hochul will direct the State Liquor Authority to create a hybrid restaurant-dance license.

“To improve trust and transparency and cut red tape, Governor Hochul will charge SLA with allowing dancing by default in taverns and bars and creating a new hybrid restaurant-tavern license,” the policybook stated.

Dancing is currently forbidden under state rules for a restaurant license — but under the hybrid options owners could offer a place to cut a rug in addition to dining.

“The new hybrid license type will bring more transparency to the community, as the license will accurately reflect the character of the establishment,” Hochul said.

Under the current law, applicants applying for bar and tavern licenses must explicitly request dancing on the premises.

Under Hochul’s proposal, bars and taverns would automatically have the right to showcase dancing, if the application is approved.

Applicants will continue to require community disclosure and comment periods for dancing and performance dancing, including from the community boards.

The head of the New York State Restaurant Association applauded the proposal.

“There are likely some restaurateurs who would want to do that. It creates new opportunity by cutting through red tape,” said Restaurant Association CEO Melissa Fleischut.

Hochul appears to be taking a page from New York City.

In 2017, then-Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council scrapped the infamous “cabaret law” — which for years drew negative comparisons between the city that never sleeps and the conservative town in the movie “Footloose” that banned dancing.

The city law had made obtaining a permit that allows patrons to dance extremely onerous and expensive to obtain.

The legislator who championed the repeal is former Councilman Rafael Espinal, whom Mayor Zohran Mamdani just appointed as the new commissioner of the Office of Media and Entertainment.

Andrew Rigie, CEO of the NYC Hospitality Alliance on Hochul/Dancing, was pleased the state was finally coming around.

“New York City has already deregulated dancing and music, and it’s time for the state to follow suit and fully allow freedom of expression and economic development,” said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the Governor and the State Liquor Authority to develop meaningful reform.”