AJ Dance Legacy

Photography by 4Deep Archives

LET LOOSE PARTY

Every eye stared upward towards the DJ booth. No one dared to move a muscle. No one dared to make a sound. A safety pin could be heard crashing on the baby powder dusted floor below throngs of dirty soles. All were consumed, busily frozen in their tracks as if this was judgment day. Obviously, not the latter all were eagerly anticipating Jellybean Benitez to take charge of the musical console.… Continue

PASSION PARTY

Party streamers with red metallic hearts attached on ends shimmered in the soft glow of the club’s neon blue, red and white strobe lights. The ceiling, cluttered with every red, pink and white balloon possibly imagined dazzled in the company of several sparkling disco balls. Enter the VIP room, already drenched in blood red, lay ready for any foreplay or other voyeuristic acts that were sure to occur.… Continue

FREEDOM PARTY

The air within the club donned a rich celebratory spirit. A spirit that loudly resonated true freedom had yet to be obtained but immense strides had been gained. In response, several faces entering the club displayed notoriety that announced, “Although I’m not totally free at least I’m freer than what I once was.”

The reminder that freedom not yet a global mandate was quickly reinforced by the vast amounts of medical supplies collected at the club’s front door for recent earthquake victims in a poverty stricken nation.… Continue

HOLIDAY PARTY

Suddenly, it happened. Like a mighty wind the night’s most unforgettable anthem blew through the room like Pentecost. The song so powerful sent chills up the spine to the neck. A song so anointed it caused one to run into the bathroom and jump up down-holy ghost style. No joke, this was chuuuccchhh!

You know the Sunday morning African American churches that sit dead smack in ill-fated communities-the kind that are beacon of hopes to downtrodden neighborhoods.… Continue

THE EXPERIENCE

“I hope that was the party that put Tambor on the map,” said Mother House.

Fierce winds rushed through the building as heavenly chords fell to the ground below. This was the stuff dreams were made of and Tambor had all the makings. The music, the life and the joy all bundled up into one as a neatly wrapped Christmas gift under a newly decorated tree.… Continue

Photography by John Crooms

TONY HUMPHRIES

The countdown to the main event began as the minutes slowly disappeared. Soon patience gave way to anxiousness that gave way to the jitters. Within ten or so minutes a small crowd assembled at the sliding door in front of the four steps that led to the basement. People wondered what the hell was going on. What was the reason for the hold-up?… Continue

Photography by Carlos Bell