With the right beat, people just naturally want to move. Youngsters and their parents, attending the Baby Loves Disco Lemonade Tour, proved this to be true last evening at the Northridge Fashion Center. It was a foot stomping, arm flailing, jump up and down event, because when tiny tots dance they don’t care much about how look. They just move to the music and let it rip.
From the looks on their faces, most everyone was certainly having a good time. Parents and grandparents were especially thrilled because this particular dance celebration was free. H&M, the trendy fashion chain that has close to 2,000 stores in 37 countries, is sponsoring Baby Love Disco's first national tour, which began in July and runs through November. At the Northridge event, an outdoor section of the mall was cordoned off. As long as a person had a wristband (available beforehand at H & M), he or she was guaranteed admission. Inside the designated area, a stage was set up for the deejay and the live emcee kept the fun going by engaging attendees with his wit and energy. Also on location were various vendors providing free food and services, including pretzels by Auntie Anne’s, as well as fashion manicures and face painting for the little ones, amongst other activities. Upon leaving, guests were provided with H&M goodie bags that included fun surprises!
Among the highlights of the evening were the parent/child dance contests. The winners were awarded a $50.00 gift certificate to H&M; this certainly brought out the best in the hopeful competitors. By and large, it was a welcome community activity that got folks moving and grooving.
On hand last evening was the amicable Andy Hurwitz (aka Disco Dad), who along with founder Heather Murphy, operates the mobile disco company. What started out nearly seven years ago, as a sort of “mommy and me” activity has grown into a nationwide phenomenon. Generally the family dance parties are held at private venues where attendees purchase tickets in advance for $20.00/per person or $60.00/family four-pack. Some of the clubs where the dance get-together is held include: Cinespace in Hollywood, CA, Shark Club in Costa Mesa, CA, Le Poisson Rouge in New York City and Café Bambini, in Miami, FLA, to name a few. However, during this tour, which visits 45 cities, several presentations are free. Locally, there will be another free event this Saturday, October 30 at the Galleria at Tyler in Riverside, CA.
Yet besides providing wholesome family entertainment, the disco tour does have another purpose, explained Hurwitz. His company is helping to raise money for and spread awareness about “Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation”, a non-profit organization that focuses on fighting childhood cancers.
There once was a real “Alex”; her name was Alexandra Flynn Scott and she was born in 1996. When she was one-year-old, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer. In 2000, in the midst of her courageous bout with cancer, little Alexandra decided to run a real lemonade stand to raise money to help the doctors who had helped her. Sadly, little Alexandra succumbed to the disease a mere four years later. In her memory and honor, the foundation continues today to assist other children who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Predictably, if she were still with us, she would have been out there dancing last night.
(To read more about the Lemonade Tour, visit Disco Daddy's blog.)
Comments