New Yorkers looking for a change of pace are turning to lunchtime dance parties to shake the day up.
An up-tempo alternative to munching quietly at a desk or slogging through a long line at a local café, midday parties provide a place to shake and shimmy — at least for a while.
“There’s so many great aspects — the exercise, it relieves stress, it gets people out of their routine,” said Sarah Reynolds, 32, of Astoria, who organizes events called Lunch Beat LIC in Long Island City. “Everyone just comes out and they have a wonderful time.”
The hour-long bashes are based on the Swedish-born Lunch Beat, which bans shop-talk, is not-for-profit and serves water for free. Similar events have popped up around the globe from Porto, Portugal to Portland, Oregon.
“It’s one of those ideas that’s ‘the more, the merrier,’” Reynolds said.
In Manhattan, the culture guide Flavorpill organizes events called Lunch Break, where on a recent Friday afternoon dancers blew bubbles, donned fluorescent sunglasses and swilled complimentary drinks on the crowded dance floor.
“It was something that I’ve never experienced before — a midday party where everyone’s dancing, nobody’s stressed out, nobody cares,” said Hillary Goldstein, 25, a midtown resident who has been to three of Flavorpill’s events. “I went the first week and I brought a friend with me, and the next week I brought another friend, and this week I have five friends coming, just because I keep saying, ‘You guys have to come to these parties — they’re so much fun.”
There is eating in addition to dancing. Lunch Break attendees get a sack-lunch that contains a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, fruit and a health bar.
“Working for so many hours, I think it’s just the perfect break for everybody to unwind for a little bit in the afternoon,” said Loren Wilson, a 27-year-old Lower East Side resident who wielded her own bubble-blowing gun as the music boomed around her.
There are no future Lunch Break events scheduled at the moment, but those looking to dance at lunch can attend the next Lunch Beat LIC event, scheduled for noon on Thursday at The Secret Theatre in Long Island City.
“I think New York is kind of one of these places where we have a work hard, play hard mentality,” Wilson said, “and this fits the bill.”
