Dance Dance Party Party Chicago

Awesomesauce.
Maybe you’re sick and tired of shaking your ass to your fave music in the privacy of your bedroom but aren’t quite ready to show those skills to the world. Well, ladies, let this place be your stepping stone. You get to wear whatever you like, dance however you want, and all this with no judgement, in a room full of accepting, fun ladies. The DJs change every week so it never gets old, and being around so many happy, free chicas is energizing and def doubles as a good cardio workout.
Just do it.

Dance Dance Party Party! I wasn’t sure if I could dance while sober in front of total strangers, but THAT I did. Dance Dance Party Party was an hour of total freedom, exercise, self expression, sweat and smiles.
I gave it a shot on a Wednesday evening. Just $ 5 to drop in. $ 1 for water. The head ladies gave us the run down: no judgment, no talking, just dance. They turned down the lights; I was grateful for that. One of the dancers provided the mix. I was a bit too self aware at first and then 15 minutes in, during a Block Party song, I completely let loose.
I was bopping up and down, shaking parts, waving things. I worked in some hip hop moves, aerobics, Molly Ringwald steps, and ballet. I was taken back in time, when dancing without inhibition took place M-​F in my bedroom in my childhood home, just before bed. One mirror, one nightgown, one song (played over and over again)!
Seeing these ladies at Dance Dance Party Party, I realized we were probably all doing the same thing 10 – 20 years ago in our childhood homes. While shaking my groove thing, I began to picture my hometown street at night. Then I pictured all the houses surrounding mine, full of my girl pals dancing in their bedrooms, laughing our tails off, except this time we were all together in the same room. Crazy, alone-​style dancing. This is me being me, fully me. I loved it.
Apparently, the idea originated in New York. I’m thrilled that it also landed in Chicago.
I’ll be there again soon and one day I hope to be invited to be DJ for a night. Adam Ant, Ms. Azealia Banks, MIA, I’m just getting started!

What if he was Romeo in black jeans? What if he was Heathcliff (it’s no myth)? Maybe she’s just looking for… someone to dance with…
Hell, what chick needs to find some guy to dance with when there’s Dance Dance Party Party?
To echo my fellow Unilocalers, this is awesome. It’s like when you dance around your house by yourself, pretending you’re Madonna, but with 20 other ladies doing the same thing. No judgment, no talking, no boys. Aside from being a good workout, it’s incredibly liberating. No better way to spend 5 bucks and an hour.
Don’t you wanna dance? Say you wanna dance. Don’t you wanna dance? Uh-​huh. With somebody who loves me.
Eff that noise, he can stay home. I got my girls.

No booze. No boys. No judgment. It is just you, the music and the dancing!
DDPP is one of the best things about living in Chicago. It is a great workout combined with total stress-​reduction. You will always be greeted with a smile and a warm welcome. I also love that there is a variety of ages, body sizes and dancing skills.
Don’t be nervous. Come and give it a try!

Super fun! All sorts of people in attendance. The music all depends on the taste of the DJ, but no matter what, it is a good time. Also, a good workout. I wish there were more locations because the drive up there from the west loop sucks! Sometimes it takes up to an hour to get there during rush hour. Definitely bring comfy shoes and workout clothes. Bring or buy wanter there. The actual location has a couple of large, musty curtains and with all that jumping and singing, it triggered my asthma a little. So, bring your inhaler, or dance way on the other side of the room. But, once you start dancing, everything about this place seems like perfection!

I can’t stop smiling!
It’s similar to a dance party that you may have had a teen (or 20 something… or 30 something) but one of your friends makes up the playlist.
My experience: showed up about 10 minutes early, entered through the side entrance on Belle Plaine, paid my $ 5 and was greeted warmly with a «it’s your first time?! Awesome! Welcome!» and was given a punch card. A few minutes later, the warm up started and the rest is history. Booty shaking, arm waving, popping n locking, jumping up and down, I can’t really remember. Once the music starts, you just move your body as you feel fit.
‘wake me up before you go-​go’. Oh yeah, ready to shout out ‘orange mocha frapuccinos!
hit me baby one more time’? The guiltiest of guilty pleasures. Hey, I admit I know all the words.
‘hanging tough’? If your a NKOTB fan, you know the arm wave.
…and 13 more jams to cut a rug to. The best part? I could be clumsy, sloppy or on point and none of it matters. It’s all about having a great time. At least that’s the feeling I received from the others in the room dancing with me.
As previous reviewers have stated, bring water, dress like you’re going to workout and no judgement!
Well worth the $ 5!

Dancing with no judgment, you say? No, you can’t be serious.
YES. It happens.
My first visit I went with friends, so I had a safety net of ladies around whom I already knew I didn’t mind making an ass of myself. But then I started to move around the room a little bit. Second class– everyone bailed on me, so it was me and a bunch of stranger ladies. And it was absolutely NO less fun than the first time.
I will say that the playlist quality has been pretty different in the two times I’ve been– someone brings their iPod loaded with an hour of music, so you’re at the mercy of whoever is DJing that class. Hope for something heavy on Top 40 that you know/​have heard before. .
I’m glad to have found something to keep winter workouts a little less depressing that is also pretty sweet.

DDPP is a total blast. If you have any hesitation about going, don’t. It’s super low key and just plain fun. There are no expectations that you will be an amazing dancer and the regulars are not cliquey a/​k/​a you won’t feel like the odd man out showing up for your first time. Basically everyone sticks to their own space and does their own thing for an hour. There’s no talking so if your goal is to make friends, you’ll have to do it before or after class. Most people show up, shake their shit, and move on. Since my preferred form of exercise is dancing to sweet grooves rather than biking in place or running for an hour, DDPP is perfect for me. Because you will sweat. Oh yes, you will sweat. And hopefully pick up a few new moves from your fellow DDPP-​ers.

My class here started off mega-​awkwardly. I arrived at 6:15 for a 7:00 class. I rang the bell marked «DDPP» at the front door on Damen. The wicked witch of the west answered, said she owned the studio and proceeded to lecture me about how I was never to ring that bell again, and how I was supposed to wait at the unmarked side entrance on Belle Plaine until 6:50 when they came to set up.
Excuse me for giving you business and for bringing two friends with me, witch.
At 6:50 two overweight, older, tattooed ladies arrived and began to set up the studio and posted signs on the building telling people where to go. I’ll be blunt. I thought if these were the instructors this class was going to suck. I wasn’t just coming to dance around. I was coming for a workout.
Then, huge sigh of relief as the young, graceful instructor Catherine arrived. I am a dancer but the free-​form format felt awkward at first and I took awhile to warm up to it. Some of my classmates were experienced dancers and others not so much, but everyone loved to dance. I got over all the initial weirdness and really got into it after the first couple of songs. Catherine played great music. A mix of rock, pop and hip hop. Really great remixes. I enjoyed it and it was a great workout. I will totally come again.
Just a little suggestion. I think it could be even better with boys and booze.

For more than a decade, from a toddler to my tweens, I studied dance. I think my mother hoped it would make me more graceful and less klutzy — fail. Epic. Fail.
Even though I loved dance and had no fear of performing, the one that always made me feel uncoordinated and self-​conscious was any sort of unscripted booty shaking in front of others. It’s still rare that you’ll finding me dancing with reckless abandon outside the confines of my home unless there are serious amounts of booze involved. Until now that is.
I entered the DDPP studio full of excitement and trepidation, still unsure if I could really let loose in a room full of strangers without some liquid courage. All my nervousness quickly melted away as I saw women of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes filter into the studio; the veterans full of excitement and positive energy. I paid my $ 5 and figured that worst that could happen was that I’d give a room full of mostly strangers some comic relief.
As has been mentioned before, the studio is nothing fancy, but for this it really doesn’t need to be. There are a few mirrors, some rope lights along the floor and a light machine. The music is courtesy of guest DJ’s, not pros, but fellow DDPP’ers; you only need to attend once before becoming one.
There aren’t many rules to DDPP, but the two key ones are no judgment of yourself or others and no talking (singing along is ok). I’m still working on that first rule; I was truly wowed by the other ladies in the room and silently quite critical of my own, but the dimmed lights helped me work on my inhibition.
A warm up and cool down song sandwich the non-​stop dance party. You can move with as much intensity as you like, but it’s hard not to get caught up in the infectious energy in the room. As far as apparel is concerned, anything goes. However, I would strongly suggest layers and breathable fabrics, leave the denim at home but defo bring a water bottle and maybe even a hand towel. I consider myself to be in decent shape and it wasn’t long before I was crazy sweaty and a touch winded.
If you’re looking to work out some emotions, burn some calories or simply get your grove on, you’ve got to try it — it probably will cost you less than some fancy Starbucks drink. I may never convince myself that I look any better than Elaine Benes on the dance floor, but I’m working on not caring.

Really, everyone has already said it. It’s a place for girls to get down and do their own thing.
I heard about DDPP two years ago, but I lived too far away to make the hour trip worth it. But when I moved to the city, it was the first thing I tried out. I have yet to regret it.
I’m shy. I’m super, hella shy. I walk through the door with my head down and I am a stick to the wall kind of girl. But you wouldn’t even guess I was the same person when the lights are off and the music is going. It’s my one, weekly, way of expressing exactly who I am in the moment. When I’m mad, I thrash. When I’m happy, I jump. And when I hear a song that makes me think of dirty deeds, well, I drop it low.
The denmothers are ah-​mazing. They are welcoming and are insane dancers themselves. I will admit that in the three times I’ve gone, I’ve stolen a couple of their dance moves based on their coolness.
So please, give this a shot. You will not regret it. I have yet to see someone walk out without a smile on their face. And my boyfriend loves it as I am much more energetic and outgoing when I get home.

I wish I could bottle the feeling I got at DDPP and give it away. I think the world would be a much, much happier place.
Armed with our best sweats and a bit of apprehension, a friend and I finally made the trek to DDPP today. (Helpful DDPP tip: the entrance to the studio is on Belle Plaine.)
And, we danced. Boy, did we danced. I did the running man, the roger rabbit, the lawnmover. I flailed my limbs about and shook my booty. I did some fake ballet dancing and then busted out my phat hip hop moves. I probably looked pretty ridiculous. But, nobody else cared, so why should i? (Helpful DDPP tip #2: Bring water. You can buy one for a buck there if you don’t.)
And when it was over, I think I understood why Kevin Bacon just had to dance in the mill in Footloose.

I had jeans on. And I’m glad I read the disclaimer. I took off underwire in favor of sports and ditched the denim for breathable cotton. And yes, out too went the judgment of myself and the apprehension of the silliness and in came soooooo many smiles and grooves and bumps and jukes. I mean, this concept is sheer genius. Jenn Brandel is another kind of wonderful.
The studio looks nearly identical to your best friend’s basement. The set-​up is rudimentary and the prospects are endless. Our playlist, which changes every week, started with R. Kelly’s «Echo» and lots and lots of laughs. It ended pretty much the same with plenty of Kid Sister and Gwen Stefani in the middle.
And the sweating, oh the sweating. I have been trying to get motivated to «work out» for weeks, months, years.. . and my version of working out just isn’t the same as it used to be. My expectations have changed, and considering the only expectation I had at DDPP was to try something new I was pleasantly surprised that I pitted out and came up drenched after an hour of silly, sexy, full-​on feet pounding dancing.
After the gaggle of us left we couldn’t stop gushing. At one point, I sat back and listened to some beautiful women laud and smile about the experience. It’s enough to make me get mushy, but DDPP is the best therapy I’ve had in a long time. Heart-​pounding, thrilling and special for women (who get to be girls) everywhere.

Um, I nearly crapped my pants when I first read about this. Dancing without getting hit on?! And you get to wear your sweat pants?!
Sold!
Well, we were a little nervous at first, being the newbies and all. But, like everyone else says, after 5 minutes you forget about everything else and just shake that groove thing. Or is it «thang»? Either way, I’m bad at dancing. I acknowledge this. But at DDPP, it does not matter. You want to do the sprinkler? Go ahead. You want to show your spirit fingers? Ok!
Please do try this out. You’ll get hooked, like us. We plan on being there every Wednesday. In fact, we may even make a song where the only lyrics are «Dance Dance Party Party.» So stay tuned for that.

i HATE the gym. I hate paying for it. I hate feeling judged even though probably no one is judging me. HATE it.
DDPP is soooo much better than ever stepping foot in a gym and I totally had a great work out.
Did you ever just want to feel like you were the star of a jamiroquai video? I totally have and that is sort of what happened at the event on Sunday. I am going back on Wednesday and plan on taking 4 new girlfriends with me for the fun!
Come and play, you will have a blast and get a great workout in as well. All of the girls were amazing!

After seeing DDPP listed as an event here, this completely sounded like something that I could, er, get down with.
Exercising is boring. Dancing is not. Dancing makes you sweat, like exercising, but it’s less lame. Dancing in tight jeans and heels can hurt, and prevent you from really dropping it like it’s hot, and sweating in the company of women is less embarassing than watching perspiration run down the back of your leg beneath the hem of your skirt. You get the idea.
But seriously. This was very nearly spiritual for me. I had a grin on my face for about an hour after our hour was up. I really couldn’t get over how welcoming the veteran party-​ers were to my friend and me. They’re funny, and kind, and flipping amazing dancers.
Bring water. I can’t stress this enough. And go. And shake it. Shake it. Shake it.

Three rules: No booze. No boys. No judgement.
No judgement??? Well… if I have to…
I checked my judgy pants at the door and headed in for a crazy fun hour of freestyle dance. I had a blast!
For one hour, the DJ (a different woman each week) plays some booty shaking music and you do whatever the hell you want. Our den mothers were very nice and gave us a little bit of instruction at the beginning, but really all you need to know is that you have to dance… or move… or do something.
The studio was smaller than I had expected and my area got a little crowded. There were some very near accidents, but that was part of the adventure.
It takes a few songs to really get into the «no judgement» dancing, but when I spied a couple of girls near me dancing really silly (I’m not judging! I think they were trying make each other laugh!) I realized that no one cares what you do. At all. To quote Lady Gaga: Just dance.

I came, I saw, and I danced my a$$ off! Seriously, I honestly think I sweat more in this hour of my life than I have in forever! If you know me at all, you know I love to shake what my momma gave me (you can witness this at any Unilocal event that involves music – am I right Rhonda???).
So one can imagine my delight when I saw the DDPP event posted here on Unilocal.I must confess I had never heard of Dance Dance Party Party, so I was intrigued by the premise of dancing (I mean really moving) along in a females only atmosphere for an HOUR all for the low low price of $ 5.
Now as this was my first time, it was a bit awkward at first. You just sort of feel a little silly, but after 5 mins, that awkwardness melted away and the dance fiend within me leaped out went all out (she is funny that way). The people who run this are nice & encouraging of newbies. This really is for all females – all shapes, all sizes & all ages – no need to be a professional dance – just shake that a$$.
Here is the drill:
**it is every Wednesday from 7 – 8 and every Sunday from 4−5pm
**Go with a fun attitude – it is totally & completely up to you how involved you are & how much fun you have. So, throw caution to the wind & just go with it!
**You show up in comfortable clothing – think layers so that you can remove stuff when you get warm.
**wear a good sports bra – trust me those girls will be bouncing all around.
**You warm up, stretching is key, no need to hurt yourself.
**Bring water, you are sooooo going to need it. If you forget, they have bottle of water there that they sell for $ 1 a piece.
**DANCE, DANCE, DANCE, and then DANCE some more. There is no specific instruction, you just move as your feel, let the music guide you.
**Music is put together by «DJ’s» who are actually class participants. So, you could make up a play-​list as well at some point.
**after the hours is up, you head home feeling pretty good about yourself and your righteous moves.
Oh and there are only 2 rules during that hour:
NO JUDGEMENT, seriously who needs it anyway, you are all there to have some fun & get your booty shaking.
NO TALKING, trust me when I say, that is not a problem as you will be huffing & puffing to the tunes.
I am looking forward to another time of booty shaking, perhaps next time you will join me.

DDPP will put you in your happy place. A place where you can dance for dancing’s sake — not for the sake of looking cool, being «seen,» or having dude parts ground into you. A place to let go and dance, with heart, with energy, with pure abandon. And anyone can DJ, so the mix is completely different every time! Go once and I’ll guarantee you wish you would have found out about this a long, long time ago.
Michelle (aka DJ Honeycrisp)

Definition of Heaven:
A dance studio where for 5 bucks you can dance as Sexy/​Goofy/​Wild/​Manic/​Nerdy/​Free as you want without creepy people trying to hump you, where no one is judging you (including yourself!), where they turn the lights out and turn the homemade Dance-​your-​crappy-​week-​out mixes up and you leave happily exhausted with sweaty sneakers.
DJ Sassybrass