Wife of Detholz Rocks Us Right!

We certainly strapped on our boogie shoes tonight. DJ Ann Atomic (aka Wife of Detholz, aka Jen Gracie Schwarz) lovingly wove a sonic tapestry with something for everyone. I mean – we bongo bonged to Manu Chau, found our own personal deities with Of Montreal, and rocked out vicariously with Ann Atomic’s husband and crew! Oh yeah – and we went back to the future while doing the Time Warp. I saw myself as an old woman and yep – I was still dancing in the nursing home hallways (you can still get funky with an IV in your arm – take it from me. Or the future me. I think). I think I need to ease up on the dayquil. Apologies all…

Thanks to Jen/Gracie/Ann Atomic for the fantabulous mix! And thanks for every single one of you who is still saying YES to life in the midst of a borderline absurd winter! You inspire inspiration. Truly.

Wish it was Sunday. That’s my fun day.

So it’s the day after a helluva a DDPP mix brought to us by DJ Katzi and DJ K-Z and I’m feeling a bit of a hangover. Could it be from devouring half a pan of 7 layer dip while watching the Oscars? Hmmm – could be. But more than likely – it’s because I’m actually SORE from that class and feeling a bit nostalgic for all that energy on this dreary Monday morn.

You’d think dancing my face off 2 days a week would mean I’m past the soreness phase, but that mix threw me into a new level of cardiac high and sweat production. This in turn inspired many high kicks and some time rolling around on the studio floor (thank you Prince guitar solo!) Yep. Laundry time!

Thanks to everyone who came out yesterday on that sunny Sunday and threw down. That was truly a blast. I’ll post the DJ playlist as soon as it becomes available so you can relive your favorite moments all…week…long. Or until Wednesday – if you can make it to DDPP again! Woo hoo!

Sarah Jessica Parker – We Salute You

What a girl wants, what a girl needs who’s to say? But GIRLS (plural) – just wanna have fun. (Doy!) That was one of my favorite movies as a youngin, and if I think about it long and hard enough, it was probably the inspiration behind Dance Dance Party Party. Specifically – this scene:

I hope you took 6 minutes and 8 seconds to watch that video. Assuming that you did – I mean, COME ON! Who doesn’t want to dance their face off after such a dramatic win? That’s how I feel at some point during every DDPP. Like Sarah Jessica Parker, but without the dude, and wishing I could find an outfit like that at Village Discount.

So last night, I brought the inspiration along and embedded it in my play list. Yes – Dancing in Heaven. The very song that brought SJP such triumph and glory! Jenn Martin pointed out that I accidentally (or not? hmmm) included another song from that movie. The one SJP and Helen Hunt get down at for try outs. You know it – Dancing in the Streets. It doesn’t matter what you wear – just as long as you get down to DDPP one of these nights.

Thanks to all who came out in the chilly, lunar eclipse. I think we all realized some important things- namely, Kenny Loggins is pretty damn hot, Stevie Wonder does the best Beatles cover of anyone (ever), and you need to rent Girls Just Wanna Have Fun again, stat.

Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl

No – her name was Agent N, she was our DJ. And she rocked our bodies right all through the Sunday night.

By the way – did you know the Copa Cabana was such a violent establishment? My lyrical retrieval powers always stopped at “her name was Lola, she was a show girl, da da dadadada…” But this is what Barry swoons about mid song:

“But Rico went a bit too far, Tony sailed across the bar
And then the punches flew and chairs were smashed in two
There was blood and a single gun shot
But just who shot who?”

What?! People were shooting each other? I thought it was just about a pretty lady and some tropical drinks. Learn something new every DDPP.

Speaking of learning new things – DJ Agent N threw out some hot numbers most of us had never heard before and they all rocked equally hard! Her play list inspired synchronized clapping, floor crawling, and even hugs at the end! Nice one ladies! See you Wednesday! Until then – please do not visit the Copa Cabana. Mamma worries, you know.

Jump, Jump for My Love!

DJ Hiz-eitz made us leap, bound, high kick, twirl, and yes  Jump, JUMP for her love! Her love here = her fantastic mix of songs. I mean – we built an ENTIRE CITY on Rock and Roll! And let me tell you from experience – there’s  a lot of sweat involved in such endeavors.

After constructing a gleaming, glowing, brand new metropolis – we took a break and retired to our own private Idahos. Which was nice – but a little too many potatoes. So we reconvened and decided we were just going to pretend it was Friday. (For Jenn Martin – it’s apparently always Friday). Why Friday? Because Friday I’m in love! And I’m also in love on Valentine’s day – with each and every one of you!  Thanks to the 17 vessels of throbbing energy who made it out last night for a truly beautiful  freak out session on the dance floor.

DDPP TEES TO PLEASE!

Madame Glennis of the New York Chapter just created an amazing array of DDPP t-shirts for your visual and tactile pleasure!

There are long sleeve, short sleeve, tank tops and in every conceivable color – so you should have no problem finding one unique enough to fit you!

Check out the shop at this link:

http://186481.spreadshirt.com/us/US/Shop/

Livin’ in Arctic Temperatures… and on a Prayer

Ok – what the hell? I mean seriously. It was ONE DEGREE out today. Fahrenheit. That’s -17 degrees Celsius (I’m sure you were wondering). Jenn Martin and I were banking that 5 ladies (tops) would brave the elements to come out and dance. And that was including us.

Wow. Were we wrong. By like, 20.

Today’s DDPP was incredibly awesome – not just because of the sheer numbers in the face of frozen boogers – but because of DJ Yes M’am’s fantastical musical mix and the positive energy generated in that room. It’s been three hours since I stopped shaking it and I’m still on cloud 9. When livin on a prayer came on and every single woman in that room pumped her fists and jumped up and down – I swear it was borderline religious. And Manic Monday! And I Wanna Dance With Somebody! It was a frickin campfire sing along! I mean – it doesn’t get any better than a room full of strangers whoo hooing to Whitney without an ounce of attention paid to giving a crap.

Really – tonight was a great example of why we continue to do this and believe so strongly in it. Rain or shine, arctic temps or blazing hot – we’ll keep dancing until someone shoots us in the feet.

Thanks so much to Amanda (DJ Yes M’am) for such a thoughtfully crafted mix.

Introducing: The Indestructibles

Despite the snow tumbling down from above and getting to the studio being a major pain in the hindquarters, 5 tough-as-nails ladies decided to brave the conditions in the name of the daaaaahhhhnce. And woah! It was SO worth it! DJ Bender brought us a mix she’s had up her sleeve for a good many weeks that has marinated, aged like a fine wine. It was god damn delicious.

All of us had ample room to flail, run around in circles (big ones!), do cartwheels, and impersonate a whirling dervish. I for one, had one of the most fun DDPP’s on record basking in the cocoon of warmth and happiness we created tonight.  Thanks to all who made it out, and thanks to DJ Bender for providing a truly hot soundtrack for February.

DDPP is on for Tonight!

Though the weather outside is frightful…dancing is so delightful. We’re still on for tonight! Hope to see you and your bundled up selves in the studio despite the snow! Also – the owner of the studio has asked that I let everyone know to bring a separate pair of shoes to the studio and to change into gym shoes upon entering the space. That way the floor stays salt and slip free!

Thanks ladies

To Show or Not to Show – That is the Question?!

Last week on the PRI radio show Weekend America, a nice listener (Jane Goodman from Cleveland) called in to voice her opinion on the Dance Dance Party Party story that aired on January 26. She had this to say:

“I loved the story about the Chicago Dance Party – how it was a safe place where women to go to let go without making a public spectacle of themselves. That is – I loved it until I heard the ubiquitous – “you can see this on our website.” Huh? Doesn’t showing pictures of their party on the web completely negate the idea of a safe, private place?”

We just wanted to thank Jane for taking the time to call in and give her opinion and thank Weekend America for airing it. We have certainly struggled in figuring if and how DDPP should be visually covered in the media. We almost canceled a news crew coming in to videotape and photographers coming in to shoot because we felt it might compromise that safe feeling people have in class. But in thinking that – we were working off the assumption that ladies would feel self-conscious and awkward and unsafe with video taping in the room. So to test it out – we simply asked the ladies whether or not they minded being photographed or taped. We had decided in advance that if anyone was not comfortable – we would either not allow visual documentation at all, or we would make a safe zone of the room in which anyone not wanting to be shown could dance without getting in the picture. And much much much to our surprise, in the 2 photo shoots and 1 news crew we’ve had visit, every one has given their permission every time to be captured while dancing!

Rather than feeling embarrassed or discomforted or compromised – we have come to realize that showing what the dance party looks like in action is actually really liberating! We feel that all too often women are made to feel ashamed or guilty or judged if they are letting loose or being silly in a public place. So in a way, not allowing cameras into DDPP makes it seem as though we think what we’re doing is embarrassing or not socially acceptable or something super secretive and sacred that only those who dare to come can experience. But that’s not how it is. We want to be able to show anyone and everyone that DDPP is proud to be doing what its doing ! We’re not squeamish about being vulnerable. We’re not uncomfortable moving our bodies in front of strangers. We’re just being who we are, and that deserves to be seen if the people want to see it!

Another bonus to having photos and video of what DDPP is like is that it can also assuage any fears newcomers might have. We’ve found that even after explaining to women how casual and unstructured the class is – sometimes they still don’t “get” what it would be like. But just seeing a photo or watching a little video of DDPP in action is enough to provide that understanding, and that eureka moment in which a lady can either say “Holy crap! DDPP is totally for me!” or “No thanks, I’m not comfortable taking part in this menagerie.” And that saves all of us a lot of discomfort!

So thank you to Jane for your comment! We understand and appreciate where you’re coming from, and we hope that more ladies will be encouraged to come after seeing these photos showing how much fun DDPP is! (So far it looks like it’s working – 27 new cities have asked to start their own chapters! That’s something even I couldn’t picture!)

Speaking of videos, here’s one of the New York Chapter (aka – the mother ship!). Enjoy!