DJ 3-Way

Type in “three way” in google images, and you might be surprised to find this on the front page:

(Well…I was surprised). But seeing this totally rad 3-way chess board actually calls to mind an apt metaphor for the fantastic strategy and finesse that our 3 DJs – DJ Dizzaster, DJ Darlin, and Lil’ E brought to the table. These three queens were no rookies when it came to putting together an intellectually stimulating, and at times mind boggling (WTF? Crackers! Woohoo!) mix that had something for everyone. The variety kept us concentrating on the game and not on the clock, and we all attempted some moves that are sure to bring any amateur to her knees. Ok – this metaphor is getting clunky and downright bad.

So why not spend your valuable time checking out this hot mix these 3 lovingly wove together? Here she is!

We welcome any and all collaborations! Call upon the wisdom of crowds – and bring a mix that will get all of us dripping with glow! Nice work ladies! Check mate! (couldn’t help myself)
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DDPP CHICAGO TURNS 1 YEAR OLD!

My oh my! For a one year old we’re blowin away the doctors! Look at us grow!

I mean – one year ago the only thing we consisted of was 2 roommates with need to bust a move. And then there was a class. A class with over a dozen fearless and faithful Chicago women who decided that the thought of dancing in daylight without our friends Boozy Jones and the male humanoid  was a damn fine idea.

Within a year we’ve been featured in over a dozen news outlets – from national magazines to national radio programs to newspapers and websites galore! Within a year we’ve helped spawn 17 (HOLY $%^&!) chapter cities around the globe! Within a year we’ve gone from one class once a week to double!

And most importantly – within a year we’ve connected with hundreds of other Chicago women and shared in the joy that is dancing without a care in the world! I don’t mean to get too dramatic here – but that’s a pretty big deal in our book. With hard work and smiles on our faces, we hope to continue rocking Chicago with DDPP for many years to come! Thank you to each and every one of you that have come to class, told your friends about it, and continued to come by and boogie down. You’ve been the highlight of our year, for frickin sure.

So the only way then to do this last class was by revisiting our very first playlist, compiled by yours truly, DJ Bran (I keep your shit loose). Right here:

And perhaps the greatest testament to this little dance outfit that could, is that on our first year anniversary – which is the FIRST time both Jenns could not make it to DDPP, we could entrust our baby with regulars Kelley & Victoria to run smoothly! Thank you so much ladies for making it all happen!

DDPP LOVES YOU ALL!

No Diggity? Actually, We Can – Shovel or Not.

Things just felt right again tonight after a few weeks of up-in-the-airness, unsettledness, and general instability. We had a lovely crowd – every one of us ready to throw down sans trepidation. It felt like being in a room of trusted friends who had gathered with the sole purpose of well, kicking dancing’s ass.

Yours truly, DJ Bran, sponsored the musical selections this evening. I made about 5 mixes today for my impending absence – so I was relieved/thrilled to know the jams I busted out tonight were all imminently dance-able. I did have to keep checking the ipod to make sure I didn’t throw on any Meatloaf or what not in the tizzy that was my morning. Not like there’s anything wrong with Meatloaf. Wait. Nevermind.

Thanks to all of you who made it out on this steamy Sunday. For all who were not there – rest assured the A/C is now very much working! There were no fire alarms, no overheating, and no nonsense. Just the way we like it.

OK – so you wanna see the playlist?

Whoomp! There it is.

Dance Was Conceived By Cockroaches, Reared By Women

(over a month ago I mistakenly created this post as a new page, not a new post. Whoops – taken me a little too long to rectify. Apologies!)

During DJ Cockroach’s raucous mix this evening, I couldn’t help wonder when the first dance took place on this great earth. Did protozoa do the polka? Do lizards try the limbo? Were the the first homo sapiens side-steppers? Brace yourself. I have some sad news… I did not come up with a satisfactory or conclusive answer (wah wah waaah). But I did come to the conclusion that DJ Cockroach took us all somewhere far, far away in our own minds where one could wonder about such things while bouncing to and fro. And that’s exactly where we all needed to be. 

Her mix began with a beautiful succession of earthy, primordial jams that placed us somewhere dark and sweet and lovely and not anywhere in the greater Chicagoland area (I assure you). She then brought us back into the world with a super hot rock and pop interlude which inspired some well… inspired dance moves. A few ladies jumped in place for what seemed like entire songs, others were moved to boogie their goodie two-shoes in front of the ever-amazing lava projector. It was like we had all been hiking silently and contentedly in an other-worldly forest. Then suddenly in a clearing, we saw The Kinks performing live for a pack of tree gnomes and we fearlessly joined them. (No – I am not on drugs) 

Then, just as the rock tunes were winding down we all laid down in the grass to watch the most beautiful sunset and pink moon rise overhead in the new summer air. None of us wanted to get up when it was all said and done. We could have slept under the stars until morning. 

Thank you DJ Cockroach for that fantastic mix that let us all escape for a blissful hour and a half. Now if only I could find that portal back to the other dimension…

 

Wait a second! Cockroaches were the first to dance! They even have a fun Mexican dancing song written about them! No wonder?!

Dancing is the best remedy for stress..especially when you are tuned to the right station

DJ Tunerkin station that is! DJ tunerkin was just what the doctor ordered… $5 for a bi-weekly therapy and health session is incredible, and our DJ doctor was tremendous in getting through to us. How great is it to have an outlet like DDPP where we can do anything we want to on the dance floor, and relieve all the stress and craziness that we deal with everyday. When I hear the beats that our wonderful DJ’s provide time and time again, I can’t help but think of the collectiveness that this dancing provides. It’s a dancin’ family we have at DDPP, and who better to represent it than our own DJ TunerKIN. It was a hot one on the dance floor, but we ladies kept our cool and danced with style in our latest dance fashions. The “therapy session” got even better when our own doctor, DJ Tunerkin, let us share in some of her own private guilty pleasures (just like her dog, we went crazy when “her song” came on). Thanks for your wonderful tunes tonight. Whenever we are in the area, we will be tuning into you.

Dishes of Delicious

Holy tasty cakes! DJ Delish – aka DJ Bender – served us up one hot tune casserole this eve with her food-theme mix! I still can’t quite believe the ambition of some DDPP DJ’s – and tonight’s mix added to my incredulousness! (#$%^&*!!!!)

We started off on the right foot with a little Weird Al, and then transfered our weight to the left foot to make our way over to the little bowl with pastel sugar blobs high while we waited for our table. 

The second we were seated the waiter began blowing our minds. To begin? A fondue of Chocolate Buttermilk to accompany our plate o flapjacks. To cleanse the palate? Some maki and nigiri love with just the right amount of ginger/wasabi/soy. By then that whole sweet/salty feedback loop had begun. So we had to split a banana boat. That was a little too sweet, so we went all Midwestern and chowed down on beer and brats. And damn that sweet/salty would not end! So we had to fill our gullets with whipped cream AND cherry pie! We were barely fitting into our pants by this point, so we used vaseline to line our waists for ease of movement. Ahhhh…

And who said Sunday ain’t for boozin? We took a break from all the solids with a sparkling little highball of gin and juice that made our lips all cherry red (it was blood orange juice – only the finest). And why stop a good thing? We had another sipper – a freshly made pina colada.  By then all of our inhibitions were gone – and even the Jews and Muslims among us wanted nothing more than yep… BACON. Mmmmm. And once you open that pandora’s box – you start doing all sorts of crazy crap – like just sticking your fist Pooh-bear style in a jar of marmalade and shoving your pie-hole with sugar and honey honey. Alas – we needed another salty – like a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, heinz 57 and french fried potato. Washed it down with a big ol peach milkshake (country-style) and some banana chips to make us feel a tad bit healthier after eating to all those beats.

And in case you didn’t know – cherries help your, um, regularity. So just to ensure we don’t feel like hell all week long while this mix moves through the ol system, we had a healthy helping of black cherries to see us through it all. Yummmm!

Thank you DJ Bender for that lip-smacking mix that makes Thanksgiving look like an afternoon snack!