In the age of isolation and social distancing, it’s important to continue to connect in as many ways as we can.
At the start of the emergency declaration, Alzayer curated short weekly playlists (approximately 30 minutes in length) to facilitate connection through dance, offer a fun way to exercise, and provide an uplifting space to focus attention away from our collective uncertainty. Participants are invited to dress for the theme (if they desire), join a public call on Skype, and immediately transform their living room into their own dance floor.
DiscoSkype is not only a tool for connection, but a statement on the pathways in which we find to connect. In addition to facilitating the framework for connection, Alzayer set out to draw attention to the fact that many of these platforms were developed and meant for meetings that take place in the business world, not for performers, musicians, dancers, theater performances, open mic nights, etc. Tools like Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, GoToMeeting, and Google Hangouts were originally meant to facilitate videoconferencing. They were not built with performing arts in mind, yet they are overwhelmingly being used by arts professionals in times like this. These types of platforms can be cumbersome for performing arts and artists, because they were not developed with these types of uses in mind.
DiscoSkype is an ephemeral space. Dance sessions are not recorded so as to offer participants the freedom to be as unabashed as they please. A curated video playlist is shared with participants who are invited to dance along.
DiscoSkype took place weekly for ten weeks and may return at a later date.
For now, feel free to enjoy past DiscoSkype themes:
70s Night
80s Night
90s Night
Ladies of the 80s
Animal Party
Coronavirus Parodies Night
Broadway Singalong
Millennial Jamz Night
Ladies Night
K-pop Night