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I came to dance!

Dance Dance Party Party encourages ladies to get down with their bad selves

By Mia Horberg
Published: November 21st, 2008 | 1:40pm

I love going grocery shopping with my best friend. It’s not because she encourages me to keep the higher-caloric items I’ve been desperately wanting (although she does), it’s because she dances down the aisles. Every time, without fail, she hears a song that makes her feel like twirling, and so she does. It’s a trait I don’t possess but truly admire.

I can’t be the only one who wishes she could go down on one knee with arms outstretched whenever Bryan Adams’s “(Everything I Do) I Do it For You” plays in CVS. This is why the concept behind Dance Dance Party Party is so brilliant.

In 2006, Glennis McMurray and Marcy Girt were two friends who loved to dance but hated many of the qualities of a dance club. Unwilling to let it slide, the two came up with the idea for an all-girl dance party where everyone is free to be herself without worrying about drinks getting spilled on them or pervy guys trying to get in their dance pants. Their idea was such a hit there are currently 19 DDPP chapters spread not only nationwide but across the globe. This means if you find yourself in need of some dance in Christchurch, New Zealand, Dance Dance Party Party has got you covered. While the concept is great, I had to see it for myself.

There are three rules to DDPP: No talking, no alcohol, and no judgments. The no talking part wasn’t going to be hard since I didn’t know anyone there; but dancing with no alcohol isn’t my forte. On top of that, I am a tad bit judgmental. Aren’t we all? Judging others makes us feel better about ourselves, especially when dancing is concerned.

I had the sweats and nervous belly before even stepping foot into the darkened studio. There were 13 other faceless dancers ready to be soberly open-minded. When the music started, I couldn’t think of a move to try so I mimicked some of the other dancers. About five minutes into it I thought, “What the hell, no one can really see me, I’m gonna toss my arms to the side!” I couldn’t believe it; I was shaking what my momma gave me and didn’t care who was around to watch.

While a lot of the movements around the room were pretty basic, some of the other women had more elaborate ways of dancing. If I couldn’t think of another move to make, I remembered a suggestion from the DDPP website: Dance like you’re dancing for a little kid. Running man? Check! Cabbage patch? Check! Funky Chicken? Check! Check! And check! An hour later, the DJ’s mix was over and the lights came up. I wasn’t drenched in sweat, but the workout was fun and more than I had done in over a month.

Leaving the studio, I couldn’t help but feel surprised — the level of comfort inside the studio was incredible. It was literally a safe haven for my deepest, darkest interpretive dance moves. Much like improv comedy tells you to always say yes to your partner, DDPP tells you to say yes to the way your body wants to move. I’ll be back to the little Chicago studio sometime soon — this time with a friend and my own mix in tow.

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To learn more about Dance Dance Party Party or find locations, check out their Web site.