Ogden Glow Party seeks to expand dance culture in the community

The inaugural dance party held on Feb. 28 was created by Avery Charles Franklin to offer a safe, sober space for ages 18 and over

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Photos taken at the Ogden Glow Party held inside the Union Station on Feb. 28. By Austin Buckius

On Saturday, Feb. 28, glowing lights could be seen flashing from Ogden’s Union Station. It was not aliens, but some of the dance moves were out of this world. As a project for Ogden Civic Action Network (Ogden CAN), Avery Charles Franklin set up the Ogden Glow Party, a sober dance party for ages 18 and over to give folks space to let loose, cut a rug and have fun with out the pressure of alcohol or trying to find a date that more traditional dance clubs may come with. 

While this is his first time hosting a dance event like this, Franklin, also known by his stage name Dizmo, is no stranger to hosting community events. Every second Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. he hosts “Drink and Draw” at The Lab, an arcade bar on Washington Boulevard, as well as “Karaoke with Dizmo” on the first Thursday of the month, also at The Lab. With the Ogden CAN project he wanted to expand his horizons based on his love of dance.

Franklin came up with the idea to launch a test event to gauge interest and encourage Ogden’s dance culture as a part of Ogden CAN’s Community Leaders Network fellowship – CAN is described on its website as “a paid, seven-month fellowship that builds leadership skills through civic engagement, community organizing, and collaboration with neighbors, community partners, and local government.”

Franklin identified a need he saw within the community and created a project. In his case, it was the lack of a place for folks to dance outside of the club scene and all that goes with it, including age restrictions. Part of the inspiration was his desire to find spaces he could spend with his little brother who was not 21 yet, but still an adult. When such spaces were few and far between he decided to make his own so that there could be a safe and chill space for every adult whether newly minted or with a little more experience under their belts. He also wanted to highlight what makes Ogden and its residents special, or as he said “what makes them glow.” 

He was inspired by Y2K nostalgia, pulling from staples such as “Dance Dance Revolution's” soundtrack and art direction, bright colored clothes, and a theme that would be accessible. He wanted to create a space of self-expression and let people shine. 

Part of this was the UV lights and light projectors around the room, free glowing accessories such as rings, necklaces and glasses and an arts and crafts station with glow markers. Attendees were encouraged to use body safe markers to draw on themselves, or create fans which were not just stylish but greatly appreciated as you heated up from boogie fever. The provided glow accessories were just the tip of the iceberg. 

Many attendees wore fluorescent clothing with patterns ranging from lightning bolts to Goku socks. Each person dressed to their comfort and style and the eclectic blend, far from seeming out of place, added to the atmosphere. One attendee even wore a headlamp with a flashing red light usually seen on the hiking trail but added just the perfect amount of outdoor charm to really capture what Ogden is about on and off the dance floor. 

Along with personal fashion, attendees were encouraged to write what makes them glow on a poster alongside the arts and crafts and the answers were as varied as the attendees themselves. 

All the fun would not have been possible without DJ Flight Suite, from great fast-paced dance tracks mixed and matched perfectly to the excellent vibes he brought. He kept the music pumping and the party going without fail. 

Going forward, Franklin would like to host more dance-themed events based on his schedule and community demand. It is something he would like to continue to foster. He used the Ogden Glow Party to see how much bandwidth it would take and what his capacity is to host these events on top of his already busy schedule. Whether this is a monthly event, annual, biannual or just a one shot, Franklin was able to show a little bit of what makes Ogden glow – and a lot of what makes him glow so bright in our community.