Throw a dance party at home!

HERE'S HOW TO DO IT.

More than ever, we need to get offline, come together face-to-face, de-stress, build energy, create community, and find hope and joy. We don't need corporate culture or venues for this. Small dance parties in the intimate comfort of home are a great way to do it. No home’s too humble. Your friends will be grateful!

This page is a work in progress, and the tips are just suggestions. Please share your own experience and ideas below. 

GENERAL TIPS:

1. Invite friends who like to dance. Try for at least five. Neighbors, too!
2. Make a playlist of very danceable music, invite a friend to do it, or let everyone contribute in advance. (We recommend songs from Dancy Pants!)
3. Use or borrow a speaker that gives good bass so you can feel the beat.
4. Don't make it so loud that it bothers your neighbors.
5. Your home doesn’t have to be spic-and-span.
6. You don't have to know "how" to dance. Just move to the music. Don't worry about how you look. Dance to feel good, not to look good.
7. If you live on Cape Cod and would like our free help, our small sound system, or our presence, let us know!
8. Have fun!
9. Let us know how it goes!
10. For more on making your own in-home culture, see here.

BETH'S TIPS:

These are from our friend Beth Simpson in Urbana, IL. Michael interviewed her for a great podcast -- listen here! She co-founded a series of monthly home dance parities all over her town, called "Dance For Life." Here's what has worked for them:

1. You can invite a live DJ to provide the music if you know one. In that case, say in your invitations that guests can send the DJ song requests in advance, but they shouldn't make requests during the party. Have a slow-down song at the end.

2. Two and a half hours seems ideal. 8:30 to 11PM works best in Beth's community.

3. Keep it low-intoxication. Make this clear in your invitations. It makes everyone behave better and feel safer, it costs less, and it makes less work for you. 

4. Let guests know in advance it’s not a place to make moves on each other.

5. Make your job easy, so you'll want to do it again, and you can tell your friends how easy it is to host one themselves. Don't clean up too much in advance - people don't really care. Don't provide too many refreshments. Invite your guests to contribute some instead. Ask for help cleaning up after.

6. In order to really keep the dancing going, let people know it’s a dance party, not just a party with dancing. Clearly designate a dance floor, and a separate one for water and conversation. Let guests know that if they aren’t dancing, they should go to the separate area.

7. Before you start, ask for everyone’s help to keep at least half the group dancing at all times, or it will wind down. Here's how they can help: if anyone notices the ratio drop below 1:1, they should shouts “Dance equilibrium!”, and then people should get back on the floor!

8. Have the music playing before anyone arrives. Then when at least five folks are there, say, “We’re going to dance now!”

THANKS FOR READING! 

Let us know what works for you! Please share your experiences below ...