The baby is going to boogie, complete with strobe lights flashing and disco music thumping away in the background. Never mind that the baby has just discovered walking, it’s time to dance!
Family time is going to take on another dimension with Baby Loves Disco, a novel concept which encourages toddlers and parents to have a rocking time together.
Children will get a chance to jive with mum and dad and it remains to be seen who enjoys it more — the parent or the little one.
Baby Loves Disco (BLD) was an idea hit upon by Heather Murphy and Andy Hurwitz in which parents and children can go dancing together.
How it happened
The story began four years ago when Murphy got fed up with the commercialisation of children’s activities and planned a dance party for her toddler at her house.
She wanted adults to join in and as the numbers increased, the venue was moved to a room at a restaurant.
She brought along simple toys for a “chill-out” area, balloons, egg shakers, scarves, planned a diaper changing space, added snacks and hoped she got 30-plus parents and kids to groove to disco music. She had more than 100 and Baby Loves Disco was born.
Business by accident
“BLD is an accidental business,” says Murphy. “After having my son Max (now almost 6), I was amazed at how little there was for the whole family to do at many typical outings and activities.
“After leaving the zoo with Max crying for a blue water ice (we do not eat blue things, except for blueberries), I got my mums’ group to have a dance party in my living room where we could all have fun together and not have to say “no” to unhealthy snacks and gift-shop trappings.
My living room was not large enough so we approached a nightclub in Philadelphia to allow us to do an afternoon dance party during the club’s “down” hours on a weekend.
Once the nightclub agreed — and with crossed fingers for at least 35 parents attendance to break even — we put out a few homemade posters in playgrounds and cafés. And, we sold out!” she says.
Expanding fast
That was in November 2004. By February 2005, BLD had become a monthly event. “Soon after I met my partner, Andy Blackman Hurwitz (a father of three and a music industry veteran), we took BLD to New York City and Brooklyn and by January 2006, we started moving all over the country.
“We now have parties in 28 American cities, multiple events in UK as well as Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sweden and Poland,” Murphy adds.
This fun-filled concept has taken the world by storm and it has spread from the US to the UK, Scandinavian countries and as far as Hong Kong.
So popular is the event that in some places there is a three-month wait to attend an event.
Besides, each network is not supervised by the founders, but run by local mums and dads. The secret of BLD’s success has been that parenting is not an isolated experience but having a fun time brings the family together in a clean healthy activity, which is immense fun as well.
Dream come true
If there is a great idea anywhere in the world, can Dubai be far behind? No.
“I am very, very excited about BLD coming to Dubai,” says Hurwitz. “To be able to have our event in an Arab country is just a dream come true for us.
I feel if all the parents of the BLDs around the world got together as people (not politicians) we could probably save the world!
“Also, there is the glamour effect that’s attached to the UAE and having our event (which we feel is slightly less glamorous) is very exciting,” Hurwitz adds. And bringing BLD to Dubai is a young mother of two, Emma Scorpo.
While on a holiday to the UK, Scorpo discovered the craze sweeping the city and decided to check it out. “All my friends were talking about this great idea,” she says.
Doubling the fun
“When I found elders and toddlers having such a great time together, I knew it would be terrific for Dubai. As there are so many young families here and children crave novelty (there is a limit to going to malls) it would be perfect.
Besides, dance comes naturally to kids and if parents can join in, the fun is doubled. It is perfect quality time for both.”
With Scorpo at the helm in Dubai, Baby Loves Disco launches today at Plan B, Wafi City and was sold out late last month. Baby Shop are the sponsors of the event.
Troy Zunckel, general manager, Baby Shop, UAE, feels BLD is an “exciting and refreshing experience for kids and their parents in Dubai and Baby Shop is all about a happy experience and fun for the little ones”.
There will be a goodie bag for every child and a dance contest will take place every half hour. There will also be a Barbie playcorner, plus a chance to meet Barbie live.
Nirmal Khanna is a UAE-based freelance writer
INFORMATION
Get ready to groove
Today’s event is sold out but tickets are now on sale for Saturday, November 8
- Where: Plan B, Wafi City, Dubai
- When: Second Saturday of every month, starting today
- What time: 2 to 5pm
- Tickets: Dh95 per person (crawlers get in free). Inclusive of snacks and drinks and a Baby Shop goodie bag for every child
- DJ: Chris Fisher
- Tickets available at Baby Shop stores in Centrepoint, Mall of Emirates; Centrepoint, Bur Dubai; Reef Mall, Deira
- Spinneys stores on Jumeirah Beach Road, Dubai Marina and The Meadows Town Centre
- For more information, call the Baby Loves Disco information line on 04 3902060 or visit www.babylovesdisco.ae
DISC DRIVE
Spinning his music
Chris Fisher, well known UAE-based DJ, will host the show.
“I shall be playing classic disco hits, with some modern pop — all familiar fun and happy tracks.
"This will be a chance for parents who grew up in the 70s, 80s and 90s to reminisce”.
Chris Fisher has broken the song choices into four eras and listed some artistes who were popular during those decades, which might jog people’s memory.
1970s: Gloria Gainer, YMCA, Billy Ocean,
1980s: Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Culture Club, Duran Duran
1990s: Madonna, Oasis, Blur
Modern pop: Scissor Sisters (I don’t feel like dancing), Mika, Amy Winehouse (Valerie)
