Disco-dancing the night away

DISCO INFERNO: Smash Palace is hosting the fourth edition of Boogie Wonderland, a night to dust off those boogie shoes and move and groove to the best the disco era has to offer. Picture supplied

Moving and grooving to electronically-produced sounds, repetitive vocals and upbeat music in discotheques is something synonymous with the 1970s.

For the fourth year in a row, Smash Palace will host Boogie Wonderland, an ode to an era best remembered for its funky sounds, trippy lights, reflective disco balls and cool dance moves.

To keep the vibe colourful, attendees are asked to dress up like the old days — flared trousers, sequins, spandex, platform shoes.

“I remember the 70s when dancing to disco became normal and we all learned the different ways of dancing. It was weird but cool,” Smash Palace co-owner Darryl Monteith said.

He recalled disco going mainstream after John Travolta’s magical steps in Saturday Night Fever, which premiered in the late 70s.

“It exploded all around the world, even in New Zealand.”

Monteith’s high school years were full of disco.

It was an unforgettable time to experience such a musical movement and a cool time to be a teenager, he said.

His love for the uptempo genre of music helped him come up with Boogie Wonderland.

“A big part of our venue is about offering diverse music. Disco happens to be one of those genres.”

A few of his favourite bands of the era includes the likes of pop group the Bee Gees, disco and soul band The Trammps and Ohio-based funk/disco band Heatwave.

“I especially love listening to ‘I was made for Lovin’ You’ by rock band Kiss. It wasn’t disco but their music sort of crossed over into the genre.

“There were other artists who gave a disco tinge to their music as that was what people were listening to at the time.”

Disco fans and enthusiasts are invited to join the 1970s bandwagon and dance to the music that took the world by storm and still has its influence on music today.

Boogie Wonderland. It’s time to dust off those boogie shoes and head to Smash Palace for the annual Boogie Wonderland 70s disco party. Smash Palace, Sunday, 8pm. Prizes for dressing up and dancing, supper provided. $10 at the door.