Whether itâÄôs atop a table at B-Loco or in the comfort of your own living room, the drunken man/woman, deep down, has a shared love of dance. And as the drinks start flowing, you find yourself indentifying more with Black Eyed Peas âÄúlyrics.âÄù At that critical moment, itâÄôs time âÄî time to hustle your moves to an outside location, time to swallow any sense of shame, time to âÄúget freaky.âÄù
Luckily, in the realm of the dance party, Minneapolis has loads of options. For the sake of mixing up your beloved Triple Double Tuesdays âÄî if youâÄôre so inclined âÄî here are some dance party options that span the spectrum of music, ambience and crowd.
Transmission at Club Jäger
When: Wednesday nights
Transmission may not be for everybody, but everybody should definitely give it a go. DJ Jake Rudh has become a local celebrity for his high-energy New Wave dance sets, and in his case, the hype is well warranted. Club Jäger is one of the best bars in Minneapolis to spend an evening. The vibe is intimate, and while it attracts a sizeable crowd that includes 20- to 30-year-old socialites, diehard New Wave aficionados who know about it wonâÄôt have difficulty ordering a drink. Additionally, the outdoor patio is bigger than the bar itself, and thereâÄôs always available seating if you need a breather from all that Duran Duran.
Recess at The Varsity
When: monthly
A production of Anthem Heart, Recess carries visual stimulation and euro-club fanfare to the Varsity theater. Anthem Heart DJs across the board: There will be Top 40 remixes, dubstep and rap in addition to the more indie veins of electronica. This party is not only accessible but a blast. The Varsity provides a huge and interesting space for you to rage on the dance floor, so come on âÄî donâÄôt be intimidated because itâÄôs not Blarney.
Turnt Up at Honey
When: Monthly
Turnt up is a dance night that crosses into the realm of hip-hop. A monthly production located at NortheastâÄôs Honey, itâÄôs the proverbial stomping grounds for many involved and interested in the underground scene. Hosted by a rotating lineup of MCs and DJs that include Gabe Garcia and Willie Shu, no evening is ever the same. ItâÄôs humorous, itâÄôs cool to familiarize yourself with lesser-known talent and the crowd is incredibly sociable.
GasthofâÄôs
When: Saturday nights
Alright, so thereâÄôs definitely a place for the type of dance party you find in the basement of the Library on Saturday nights, but why not carry it someplace with a bit more character? The ideal location: the basement of an authentic German restaurant/ pub. This dance night is a well-kept secret but 1) ItâÄôs always packed and 2) The strong drinks more than do the trick. Need a break? Go upstairs and order a boot. Yes, please!