by Felice Leon
Ain’t no party like a MJ party, because a MJ party don’t stop!
Last Friday, upward of 1,000 shimmyers and shakers poured from the street on to the dance floor at Le Poisson Rouge (LPR), but not without waiting in a serious line (literally) spanning the venue’s block. That’s right; Michael Jackson fans came far and wide to tear down Greenwich Village at the Freedom Dance Party’s Annual Michael Jackson Tribute.
The Freedom Dance Party, a weekly dance party rocking New York’s world for 10- years is best known for it’s unpretentious crowd coupled with a ‘shut-up and dance’ philosophy. When DJs Cosi, Herbert Holler, and Marc Smooth throw a party, it’s going to be trouble! Have your dance shoes fastened, because these DJs will be banging classic soul, funk, hip-hop, house, afro-beat, and R&B all night. No top 40’s, no way. At the Freedom Dance Party, you are guaranteed to have the ‘ohhhh, that was my song’ effect. During a night of nothing but Michael Jackson, there were plenty of ‘ohhhhs’ and ‘ahhhhs’.
DJ Hebert Holler
DJ Cosi
The scene was epic: imagine a dance floor shoulder-to-shoulder with happy MJ fans singing and swaying to songs by Michael or a Jackson (they were definitely showing Rebbie and Janet some love), sampled from Michael, or, somehow related to Michael—I was in heaven. My particular favorite mix was J5’s ‘Who’s Loving You’ into En Vogue’s ‘Hold On’. It was GENIUS!
The crowd had such energy and enthusiasm; with some attempts to reenact classic choreography, everyone was getting there MJ-on. Only at around 3:45 am did the crowd subside—then, there was a reasonable amount of space to dance. Claustrophobics need not apply.
If you were unable to attend this year’s tribute, then you definitely missed out on a party dedicated to the music, spirit, and fashion of Michael Jackson (of course, a MJ dance party would not be complete with out an impersonator, and a couple of fedoras in the crowd). At the Freedom Dance Party, the King of Pop’s legend definitely lived on! Look on the bright side, there’s always next year!
