When legendary soul and funk band Kool & The Gang released their rhythmic dance track “Get Down On It” in 1981, they couldn’t have predicted the impact the song would have on a future generation of partygoers.
The catchy four-minute song emerged when folks were no strangers to dancing and getting loose on the dance floor. In fact, the song perfectly captured the essence of an era when dancing and socializing were integral parts of nightlife and clubbing culture while encouraging listeners to dance with lyrics such as “Get Your Back Up Off The Wall.” More than 40 years later, these lyrics are embraced by Millennials and Zillennials, eager to revive the culture of dancing.
“Today, club culture is no longer about enjoyment, dancing, and having fun. It’s more like a show of wealth,” says Chinedu Ohalete, the chief marketing officer of The Jaiye Room.
Debuting in October 2023, The Jaiye Room is a Houston-based afro-fusion dance party, whose mission focuses on fostering authenticity through dance and community. Led by co-founders Brady Emokpae, EJ Akagha, Patrick Ogidi, and Chinedu and Brittany Ohalete, The Jaiye Room launched with strict guidelines that eliminated elements such as bottle wars, sections, hookah, and pretty much anything else that perpetuated classism and isolation in the club and party scene.
“That show of wealth has always been there, but there was always a place for people who may not have had the VIP section,” Ohalete tells Essence GU. Adding, “Because [sections] make so much money, [clubs] don’t even have dance floors anymore.”
For those too young to remember, clubbing was an unparalleled experience for vibrant and youthful people looking to dance and socialize all night. It was very rare to find people posted on the side of the wall, scrolling through their phones like it is today. Perhaps the pandemic and the rise of the digital world are to blame for this dramatic shift. Or it could be the lack of exciting dance melodies. Nonetheless, this plight isn’t unique to the United States.
Right across the pond, British people are running into the same issues. According to Mirror, more than a third of nightclubs have closed down due to the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. As of June 2023, reports show only 873 nightclubs remain in Britain.
Luckily, Michael Amusan, Bosun Apata, Anthony Iban, and Ife Awosika got ahead of this problem years ago with the launch of their brunch/day party concept Days Like This (DLT).
“We started DLT in 2016 when Anthony, Bosun, and I were living in New York during a year-long finance internship,” says Amusan. “While there, we experienced the vibrant day party and brunch culture, which celebrated Black culture in an unfiltered and authentic way.”
Since its inception, DLT has revolutionized London’s party culture while cultivating an international fanbase. The dynamic party brand has expanded its reach, bringing its vibrant brunch events to destinations like New York, Toronto, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. Additionally hosting an annual four-day festival in Malta.
Elevating the overall experience, DLT features a live musical component and has seen performances from major artists like Rema, Wizkid, Jazmine Sullivan and more. Amusan attributes the tremendous success of their dance party to being both an organizer and an ideal attendee. By being their own target demographic, they understand what makes a party truly enjoyable and engaging for people just like them.
“Honestly, I’m still surprised by how far we’ve come,” says Amusan. “We started as four friends who just wanted to throw weekend parties for ourselves and our friends — we all had corporate jobs, and the party was just a creative outlet.” He adds, “Over time, we realized that so many people felt the same way—coming from different areas and professions, but all seeking spaces that celebrated them.”
Not only do concepts like The Jaiye Room and DLT create safe spaces for people to have fun and party, but they also assist in fostering new and budding relationships.
“Now it’s not weird to talk or interact with the person standing next to you, because there’s nothing dividing you,” says Ohalete. “We’ve had people meet their partners, we had someone meet one of their best friends and literally celebrated their friend-versary at our anniversary [party].”
Whether you’re attending one of Ohalete and Amusan’s regular shin-digs or deciding to engage in other exciting concepts like Everyday People, Jerk x Jollof, Kuruza, Boiler Room, or AM.Radios’ coffee shop DJ dance series – the growing trend of dance parties are steadily replacing the culture of standing around and looking cool. Leading us into an era of what nightlife has always been about – community building and of course, dancing.