After Dark at Top of the Park offers the chance to dance beneath the stars
Attendees at Friday night's After Dark at Top of the Park.
Photo by Myra Klarman
So when DJ Smokey “Baby Powder” Johnson spun the classic tune early in his After Dark at Top of the Park set Friday night, in the Grove, it worked its dependable magic. A handful of enthusiastic dancers appeared in front of Johnson, while scores of additional patrons stood in groups or sat at tables, drinks in-hand, while chatting with friends.
Because it was a perfect, temperate summer night to be outdoors, many attendees had merely lingered after NOMO’s live music set concluded. But those who stayed clearly enjoyed Johnson, who - by way of a patterned polyester shirt, leather vest, afro, and sunglasses - looked like he just stepped out of an episode of “Starsky and Hutch.”
“He’s hilarious,” said John Ritenour, a U-M grad who now works at Corner Brewery. “I love watching him. He makes me so happy.”
“As long as he’s dancing, I’m dancing,” said Sam Rosenbaum, a U-M medical school student.
Indeed, Johnson performed his own distinctive dance moves while combining classic funk and soul tunes with songs like Prince’s “Controversy,” Rick James’ “Give it to Me Baby,” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”
Two U-M landscape architecture grad students - Caroline Bergelin and Ayehlet Cooper - were among those in the After Dark crowd. “We were just commenting because first Fridays at the Blind Pig are Soul Night, and we’re like, oh, our soul night is right here,” said Bergelin, a New York City native.
The music was fun without being overwhelming, in terms of volume, and there was just enough light - some of it provided by tall purple lanterns - to provide visibility while not spoiling the relaxed mood for dancers, loafers and hula hoopers alike.
After Dark at Top of the Park, part of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, features a different DJ each Friday and Saturday night at 10:30 p.m. throughout the festival's run, so there are three more chances to experience it. It takes place, along with the rest of the Top of the Park festivities, off East Washington Street at Ingalls Mall.
“Ann Arbor’s the most fun city I’ve been in, and the Summer Festival’s one of the best times to be in Ann Arbor,” said Andy Perault, a U-M public health grad student. “So it’s a great time.”
Jenn McKee is the entertainment digital journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at jennmckee@annarbor.com or 734-623-2546, and follow her on Twitter @jennmckee.
Comments
Laurie
Mon, Jul 12, 2010 : 9:51 a.m.
As a regular ToP festival goer and area dancer, I must say how disappointed I was with the dj part of the night. The djs are good, don't get me wrong, but the music volume and terrain is a problem. This is not near housing so there's no reason to have the sound system so quiet that you can hear everyone's conversation. One of these days someone is going to get cut or sprain an ankle trying to move on the tree stump dance floor. The idea is nice, but not conducive for a good time to seasoned dancers. Suggestion: turn the sound up and move us onto the sidewalk or even over to the street next year. Then more patrons will stick around.
Jenn McKee
Tue, Jul 6, 2010 : 8:22 a.m.
This story was revised to fix an error.