Dancestock I

There I was, minding my own business at home, getting into the thick of Machiavelli’s Prince, with Tchaikovsky playing in the background when I got the dreaded call; the one that always makes my heart sink to the bottom of my solar plexus. It was overlord of all things social media. I had to go out clubbing. I hate clubbing but the destination was Cairo Jazz Club and, one way or another, I usually end up having a fun time there. With their Dancestock nights, CJC pair local DJ talents with an international act, every Wednesday for a month.

The night started off with GAWDAT, Student DJ runners up. Two young guys, highly educated in the ways of the modern DJ, armed with a Deep House set list that, for the first time in a long time, did not make me want to shoot myself in the head. I mean that; they really got everyone in the mood for a night out, their track selection was spot on and up to date, something I couldn’t say for visiting DJ Ceasar K from Lebanon. He proceeded to play the most epically early naughties commercial set  in the history of the planet and this is exactly why Dancestock works. By that point in the night, you and your girl have probably had the right amount of alcohol that will have you following DJs orders militantly: you will jump up, jump up and get down, if you gotta 50 dolla bill you will put your hands up… and so it went.

This is not to mention Ceasar K does actually look like a militant from Kosovo, bereft of emotion; a DJ machine. Clearly a talented spinner, he did what so many DJs forget in the midst of trying to be cool: he played a set WITH WORDS THAT PEOPLE KNOW. SHOCK. HORROR. 

And you know what? Every single person in there was dancing their asses off to tunes including but not limited to: Seven Nations Army, Gorillaz, Lana Del Rey, The Wanted, Funky Cold Madina, It’s the motherfucking D O double G G… SNOOP DOGG and of course OutKast’s Hey Yaaa. As a friend pointed out to me: “How can Hey Yaa be playing and we’re not on the dance floor?” He was only being half ironic. Right on.

The next Dancestock takes place on Wednesday 13^th with Hassan Abou Allam followed by Dinka from Switzerland. You can book for this night through Tazkarty.net here