Tolerdance

In September 1992, two young Bernese boys launched the first ever Tolerdance gay and lesbian dance party at the city’s ISC club. Declaring its mission as being a gay night that was open to all, it was LGBT nightlife’s first step out of the shadows in the deeply discreet Swiss capital, and 22 years later it’s still a pillar of the pink calendar, with a party at ISC every fourth Saturday of the month. Nowadays it has diversified, alternating Elektro Tolderdance, a progressive beats-driven club night, and the more nostalgic Golden Tolerdance, where delirious drag skits and disco classics are on the menu. August’s Sommer Tolerdance, meanwhile, tends to be the crowning fancy-dress bash of the year. Founders Ludwig and Matz are still popular fixtures on the DJ roster, now joined in an aural offer spanning Latin house, R&B, trance, electro and acid jazz, by the likes of DJ Dodo and Bitch Computer.