AJ Dance Legacy

THE TRADITION EDITION

“Guys we’re closed. The DJ’s car broke down but he’s on his way. Trust me, once he arrives we will open,” mentioned the gruff, goateed gatekeeper.

The night consisted of boisterous headscarves, receded hairlines and silver beards. Not only were the afro-centrist out but so were the vanilla explorers all making their annual journey to the music Mecca.… Continue

FREEDOM SATURDAY

“Nothing could prevent me from getting to my beloved Tambor; not foot play-off traffic, not the homeless man standing in the middle of the street, whom I almost hit with my car, nor the accessory I left at home for my outfit.”-AJ Dance

The wall behind the DJ stage flashed with cutting edge avant-garde images of brilliant techno-acid washed colors from extreme music video clips combined with haunting Tambor images that provided a dazzling landscape of visual sensory.… Continue

Burning Hot!

As the crowd gathered center stage to cheer Peven Everett on Sexy Santa strutted around the dance floor decked out in eye candy cane gear. Then it happened, Peven took to the stage dressed in head to toe black, small in stature but ready to deck the halls with vocal havoc on merry ears. Needless to say the tribesters were filled with joy.… Continue

OMG 3F

The night consisted of the three F’s: fiyah, flatulence and a fight.

Fiyah. “At the Club” by Timmy Regisford featuring Lynn Lockamy started the night off right after informal praises were offered to Yoruba deity Olodumare. From there deep tech vocals filled the restaurant/bar that “Surely” pleased the ears. Sassy Latin house brought finger snappers to the dance floor while East London’s, Brassroots cover of Inner City’s, “Good Life” kept all feet marching with joy.… Continue

SILENT BUT DEADLY

OK, if u sleep on THIS SET, u WILL SOOOOOOOOOOO regret it!! Jihad is what i call SILENT, but MASSIVELY DEADLY!! & to those who DO come…ALL i can say is: BE PREPARED TO GET ROCKED!! ~ ? ~ -Mama House

The night’s headliner quietly assumed DJ duties after Shea Soul’s “Perfectly” vocals came to a complete stop and the baby powder lay spread all across the dark but not empty dance floor reminiscent of a first snowfall in November.… Continue

ALL GREAT THINGS COME TO AN END

“He keeps on blessing me/Blessing Me”

These were the lyrics to the party’s opener played by Lars Behrenroth at Connect’s final party. Connect a monthly party held every first Thursday night that for six years had been instrumental in bringing house music back to the city’s forefront during the nitelife’s, “drought years.” Maybe not so much as bringing house music back as it did to keep house music alive during those “drought years.”… Continue

LES FEMMES FATALE

Around the room, African Queens draped in pink-except for the big breasted which were reduced to wearing brown tees- displayed staunch allegiance to fight breast cancer. Every shade of pink from neon, traditional, to faded and every pink pattern from solids, stripes to polka-dots were within view. If one was without the night’s monochromatic theme of hot pink Tambor tees for the Queens and brown Tambor tees for the King’s they were available for purchase in the dining section of the club with all proceeds going to a breast cancer awareness organization.… Continue

Photography by Carlos Bell