Zouk Is Now A Club Again As Its Residencies Reawaken The Dancefloor

It’s been more than two years since Zouk last functioned as a club (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

The scene is gradually rubbing its eyes open with the recent string of positive announcements. Not only are local DJs coming back to work, but clubs have been finally allowed to reopen after a ban of over two years. When it comes to developments as crucial as this, the community naturally looks to institutions of the industry to see if these new conditions are sustainable or justifiable. And who better to test the waters than Singapore’s most renowned nightlife export? Three decades later, Zouk Singapore is still taking big risks.

Following the authorities’ announcement on nightlife’s official return from 19 April 2022, the nightclub-turned-lifestyle-empire will be reopening its dancefloor at its flagship venue at Clarke Quay. Zouk is bringing back its beloved residencies on selected days of the week – Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays; 10pm to 3am – along with its roster of resident DJs who’ve helped shape its musical ethos.

ONE DANCE is one of the several residencies that’s making its return (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

Zouk’s monstrous main room will welcome back TGIW, the raucous midweek series dedicated to Top 40s and EDM with Ghetto and Hong on the decks. The selector duo will also helm Zouk’s 100% Bulletproof nights, catering to more commercial-inclined anthems. And ONE DANCE, Zouk’s signature series that traverses a wide palette of genres, aptly returns with the veteran tag-team of Hong and Jeremy Boon.

Like most good things, these do come with a catch – the stiff set of rules that’ve been a cause of concern for some in the scene. For starters, these events are vaccinated-only, and entry is only allowed with a verified negative ART test. Zouk will be conducting on-site and online supervised ART tests at its main entrance, from 9pm to 2am on event nights. These services will be provided by an assortment of official medical partners, and bear a cost range from $12 to $20 that isn’t included in the club’s cover charge. Masks must be worn on the dancefloor, and can only be removed while consuming food and drinks. And since entry is strictly regulated with capacity limits, there will be no guestlist for Zouk members.

Zouk adapted during the pandemic by opening its dancefloor for spin classes (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

Since the pandemic hit the scene in March 2020, Zouk has been a tough trooper that’s taken plenty of punches. It’s adapted aggressively and stayed afloat with several resourceful initiatives, including the expansion of its F&B programme with Capital Kitchen, and pop-up partnerships that’ve encompassed spin classes, cinema clubs and online retail.

Zouk Singapore made a hard decision and stood its ground in late 2020, when the government offered clubs a rickety lifeline in the form of a questionable pilot scheme (that eventually faltered). It refused to participate then as it didn’t see the benefit of functioning as a club under such detrimental circumstances, and it remained strong with the fruition of its bold lifestyle concepts.

Long-time residencies like TGIW have been a crowd favourite amongst Zouk veterans (Credit: Zouk Singapore)

But now, Zouk can finally return to its destined purpose. It might be a muffled start, but it’s taking the first necessary step on behalf of an industry that’s revered its presence and ideology since 1991. The Zouk that people love is the Zouk that takes the lead. And without question, the scene will be watching how this unfolds.

Zouk Singapore reopens its dancefloor every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 20 April 2022, 10pm-3am. To secure your spots, book your tickets online on the Zouk website.