Dr Séculaire
Meet your host
Dr Jean-Paul Séculaire is the founder, curator, resident DJ, and host of Right On! It’s his responsibility to keep the dance joyful and safe, and he is committed to curating a Queer-friendly, Trans-inclusive space free of predatory behaviour, racism, and all forms of bigotry.
From dancer to DJ
Jean-Paul grew up in London surrounded by Black music. His earliest memories include breakdancing on a sheet of lino in his nan’s living room to the sounds of his uncle’s prized record collection. Now a respected selector and collector of vintage vinyl and 78s himself, Dr Séculaire specialises in non-electronic dance music from across the Black diaspora.
Vintage Black music
Although known to play jump blues, bebop, swing, and hot jazz from time to time, the Doctor’s Right On sets focus primarily on the music of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s: genres like soul, rhythm & blues, calypso, mambo, salsa, kwela, highlife, rumba, samba, funk, soul jazz, Latin jazz, boogaloo, mento, ska, reggae, and spouge.
From DJ to scholar… and back again
After fifteen years of DJing, Jean-Paul decided to change gears and left London to pursue academic research. In , he was awarded a PhD and proudly returned to London five months later as Dr Séculaire.
On his return, the Doctor immersed himself in the capital’s post-pandemic nightlife, and soon realised the time was right to reinvent and relaunch Right On! He is now looking forward to welcoming new generations of dancers to the club to discover the joys of vintage Black music.
From burlesque clubs to reggae concerts
These are just a few of the highlights of Dr Séculaire’s résumé:
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Regular DJ spots at Gaz’s Rockin’ Blues – London’s longest running weekly club night.
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DJing on NYE at Hellzapoppin’ – London’s legendary swing dance (est. ).
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DJing at the Royal Festival Hall as part of The Rest Is Noise festival.
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Touring Italy – from the Arci Biko in Milan to the Angelo Mai in Rome.
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Supporting reggae legends Prince Buster and Toots & the Maytals in concert.
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Hosting a weekly modern jazz show on Station FM community radio (est. ).
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Helping soundtrack the UK’s burlesque & cabaret revival from 2004 to 2014 via sets at Lady Luck, London International Burlesque Festival, White Mischief, etc.