They love the nightlife, they?ve got to boogie, on the disco ?round. And they?re toddlers.
Rams Head Live is the first venue in Maryland to host Baby Loves Disco, a national family dance party geared solely toward kids under age 7. The afternoon parties feature classic disco tunes from the ?70s and ?80s spun and mixed by real DJs for the kids to dance to.
The event was founded in November 2004 by Heather Murphy Monteith when her son, Max, was a toddler. Starting as a monthly event in her hometown of Philadelphia, the disco fever took New York when Ropeadope Records founder Andy Hurwitz got interested. “It?s more than just something to do for the kids. Baby Loves Disco is fun for parents. … We get the chance to mingle with other parents and dance with our kids.”
Susannah Monteith, Heather?s sister-in-law, is the host mom for Baltimore and D.C. She took her 1-year-old son, Ian, to the first event in D.C. last weekend.
“It was funny. My husband commented that not a single child cried during the entire thing,” Monteith said. “And he was right. Even when the kids are tired, they tend to keep going because there is so much distraction.”
The “distraction” includes bubble machines, hula hoops, baskets of instruments, a chill-out room with books and puzzles, and an entire table full of healthy snacks by Whole Foods.
The best part for parents?
“There?s zero children?s music played. It?s all disco music and even some contemporary, as long as it?s approved for lyrics and content,” Monteith said.
Currently, Baby Loves Disco is grooving in more than 21 cities across the U.S. This month the event comes to Baltimore and Washington before going to Hawaii in April.
That growth is based solely on the demand and urging of local parents, said Hurwitz, now a co-partner. “It?s based on the energy of these parents basically making it happen ? finding us venues, local partners and bringing us into the community. We would love nothing more than to be in every city across the country, but quality control is still our key.”
But Hurwitz can still dream. “In 10 years, we?d love to be in every city in the world and help create a global community for parents,” he said.
IF YOU GO
» When: 1 to 4 p.m. today and March 30
» Where: Rams Head Live, 20 Market Place, Baltimore
» Tickets: $12
