Last Friday, January 20th, we held our first ever DJ Battle!!   DJ Steez and grrrilla beats grappled it out in the musical ring, matching beats and wits with song pairs to create our dance mix for the evening.  There was a clear winner:  THE DANCERS! as we all rocked, shuffled and displayed the best of our fancy footwork to the neverending volley of hits.

How did DJ Steez and grrrilla beats make their battling playlist?  DJ Steez explained to me that together the two women created eight general musical categories: oldies, booty songs, guitar rock, seventies, eighties, current, hip-hop, and nineties.  Then each DJ picked a song to fit the category.  After the two women submitted their selections, Steez collated them, sometimes flipping the pairs in order to keep too many fast songs or slow songs from clumping together.  DJ Steez explained further that they changed the order of the categories in order to accommodate a warm-up song as the first entry and a cool-down song as the closer.  Luckily, they had no duplicates.  The final playlist is a KNOCKOUT:

I think DJ Prisoner is on lady on the left–just sayin’

What categories and songs would you chose for a DJ battle?  The next bout: DJ Prisoner Vs. The Den Mother.  I don’t know when it is yet, but it is coming soon to a dance floor near you!  The Marquess of Queensberry rules apply!  You don’t want to miss this.

Our next dance parties are Friday, February 3rd at 7:30pm and again on Sunday, February 5th at 4pm –That’s SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!  Lots of opportunities to shake it like a polaroid picture.

Once is never enough…enjoy!

Last Sunday, January 8th, we held our first Sunday afternoon dance party and rocked it!  We had a tremendous turnout, high energy, and a lot of sunshine.  Considering we didn’t know what to expect, it was clearly a success.  There’s quite a need for dancing on Sundays–so we’re gonna do it again!  Plan on dancing on SUPERBOWL SUNDAY: February 5th at 3pm.  Of course, we’ll also be dancing on Friday January 20th, 7:30pm (the regularly scheduled third Friday of this month).  How much dancing do you want to do?  Join us for either or both dance parties.

Check out our amazing playlist for last Sunday:

Many, many thanks to DJ Steez for stepping up to provide us with an original mix for our first Sunday dance party.  If you are interested in being a DJ, let Joanna or Juniper know.  Please feel free to read about how to make the optimal playlist by reading the suggestions on the DJ You page on the blog.  Or, click here.  Whether it’s Friday nights or Sunday afternoons, you should be dancing…YEAH!

It’s the first week of the new year and we are already doing our thing.  Last Friday, January 6th, we had our first dance party of the new year.  Check out the awesome playlist below:

Muchas Gracias to The ADD DJ who provided us with music for our dancing.  If you couldn’t come to our Friday night event, don’t panic!  You have another opportunity on SUNDAY, Jan. 8th at 3pm.  We are beginning our Sunday afternoon dance parties, an additional event to enjoy what you’ve already heard so much about.  Remember: no booze, no boys and no judgment!  We’ll see you tomorrow!

We should invite this guy to our annual Boy/Girl dance party in the fall.  Who’s seen the latest cover of Rolling Stone Magazine?

Actually, Janet’s done quite a bit.  She provided the backdrop of the last dance party of 2011–but a dance party I’ll not soon forget!  In case you weren’t there, we had an all-Janet Jackson dance party on Friday Dec. 30th in which we were able to select and play the tracks by request on the same night!  We didn’t have a pre-determined playlist but instead had a sign-up sheet to select Janet songs for the evening. Check out the result of our Janet Jackson by request night:

I can’t believe you missed it either!?  It was such a success, we’re already planning more single artist dance parties in the future–on our fifth Friday dance parties throughout 2012.  How does that sound?

I love this photo so much!  Aahhh…the 80s hairstyles.  Thanks to Juniper and Janet for the awsome final DDPP playlist of 2011.  We’ve got our next dance party THIS FRIDAY, Jan. 6th, 7:30pm at Martell’s Dance Studio as usual–it’s the first Friday already.  Let’s start the new year right by busting a groove and treating ourselves to what we enjoy.  The new year also means that we are starting up another DDPP opportunity on Sundays–so you can also dance at Martell’s on Sunday, January 8th at 3pm.  I’ll be there, will you?

Don’t wait a while, come join us for dancing in 2012!

Last Friday, Dec. 16th we had more than nine ladies dancing–we also had several young girls as well!  We all tripped the light fantastic  to a worldly music mix courtesy of Chrissy Murderbot of Chicago.  This lively playlist featured songs with international destinations in the title.  I remember New York USA by Serge Gainsbourg, Panama by Van Halen and Rio by Duran Duran.  Which other songs do you recall?

I’m working on Leslie Hall’s new Razzle Dazzle dance moves–we should invite her to DDPP-Akron!!

Don’t forget about shaking your groove thang over the holidays–perhaps our most exciting event is coming up NEXT!  On Friday, Dec. 30 at 7:30pm we will be hosting our very first BY REQUEST night.  We’ll be acting out our own rhythm nation by dancing to hit songs only by Janet Jackson and choosing each new selection as we go.  No pre-recorded, pre-determined playlist on this night.  All Janet Jackson by request on Dec. 30th.  That’s Miss Jackson is you’re nasty.  See you then–7:30pm at Martell’s Dance Studio in Highland Square as usual.

And this gem was also showcased by DJ Deeq at our dance party on December 2nd: Gary Numan is too cool!

Please check out this ubercool playlist – a little something for everyone, even us corndogs that like MC Hammer. Obviously, DJ Deeq has eclectic taste. She has one foot planted in modern hip-hop, the other in the Motor City. At DDPP it doesn’t matter what decade you prefer as long as you dance to them all equally.

We’ll be dancing again on the 16th  and then we have our all Janet Jackson request hour on the 30th – don’t miss it.

Since you’ve got to go/Oh you had better go now.

Over one thousand songs?  That’s a lot of music, yo.  That’s also a lot of dancing–foot stomping, clapping, fist pumpin’ and booty shaking.  We hit #1000 with Salt-n-Pepa’s 1990 hit song “Let’s Talk About Sex.”  I can’t wait for the next one thousand to start.  How about you?

Thanks again to DJ G-Spot for the music at last week’s dance party.  This was her first time dj-ing for DDPP Akron and she did quite well.  As you can tell from the below playlist, the beats were mad.

Our next dance party is Friday Dec. 2, 7:30pm at Martell’s Dance Studio in Highland Square.  Come and shake off those holiday calories.  You don’t want to forget about dancing over the holidays because we’ve got a must-attend DDPP coming soon.

On Friday Dec. 30th, we will be hosting a live-by-request night playing only JANET JACKSON!  That’s Miss Jackson, if you’re nasty!  You don’t want to miss this.  Come and dance your goodbyes to 2011!

The Bee Gees are a DDPP staple.  So are the Jacksons and the Gap Band.  This past week, Friday November 4th, however, we danced like it was the first time.  Fun and frolics were felt by all who danced on that cool autumn night.

Looking to get back into the routine of dancing on Friday nights?  Join us for our next dance party: Friday, Nov. 18th 7:30pm at Martell’s Dance Studio in Highland Square.  We’ll make space for you on the dance floor

Boy, did this ELO song sound good during our dance party!

Check out the scene in the 1980 movie Xanadu during which this song plays.

This past week we danced courtesy of a music mix from our sister dancers in Chicago.  Thanks!  As you can see from the playlist below, we rocked it all night long.

See everyone next Friday, November 18th for dancing!  Have you ever checked out our database of songs we’ve danced to over the past several years?  Feel free to peruse the song list as well as the various DJs that have provided us with the awesome music mixes.  Don’t be surprised if it inspires you to join us for dancing or to become a DJ.  We’re always open to having new women join us who want to share in the joy of dancing.

If the Torrance Community Dance Group ever wants to come to DDPP-Akron, we’d be glad to host them!

Last night, Friday October 21st, we enjoyed an electronica music mix from DJ Prisoner.  Our dance party rave featured glow sticks and colorful strobe lights to enhance the hypnotic electronic rhythms.  I think I danced off enough calories to justify eating at least some of the Halloween candy I plan on indulging in next weekend!

Below is DJ Prisoner’s electronica playlist:

A few details about the mix (yes, I am DJ Prisoner): I couldn’t help but include a sort of movie theme.  The Propellerheads song is from my favorite scene in The Matrix, the Moby song has great dialogue clips from James Bond movies (“No, Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!”)  and of course, the music video for Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You” is not only directed by but includes Spike Jonze in it (he’s the leader of the dance group).  Jonze is one of my favorite film directors.

Our next dance party is Friday November 4th, 7:30pm at Martell’s Dance Studio in Highland Square.  If you haven’t been with us in a while, consider joining us again in November.  The exercise and activity will make you feel great!  I guarantee it

Last Saturday night (October15th) we held our Fall Formal dance party.  Our theme: Pure Imagination!  Not only did we invite men to this one-time-only event but we danced for two solid hours!  It was an incredible night of music, dancing and sweets!

The decorating committee installing the photo spot

We had a nice sized crowd and our special Saturday night scheduling (not our usual night to dance) brought in a few new dancers as well.  Many thanks to our deejay for the evening, DJ Trophy Bass.  It was an absolute treat having a live deejay.   And, thanks to the Organizing Committee for planning, decorating and bringing the refreshments.  You all helped make this night not only special but successful as well.  I’m still riding the sugar high!!  Thanks everyone   Keep posting your photos on facebook–they’re all fun to see

We strung lights and filled the room with candy decorations

Setting up the punchbowl, the cupcakes and the Wonka bars before the dance party

Testing the photo spot–does it work?

The King and Queen of Homecoming Coming–I’m kidding (THAT’s ME and my male escort)

Don’t forget!  Our next dance party is THIS FRIDAY, Oct. 21st 7:30pm at Martell’s Dance Studio as usual.  It is the third Friday of this month and we plan to put on our boogie shoes and hit the dance floor with DJ Prisoner providing the music.  You don’t want to miss it–see you there!