Do disco differently: WXYC presents a unique take on the genre

WXYC’s disco dance is coming to Cat’s Cradle on Friday with the hopes of presenting a new twist on disco music and engaging the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community in a night full of fun and dancing. 

“In the past, it has been a really big community-building event, whether you’re a DJ at WXYC, like listening to the station, or have never been to it, I think radio and it’s extensions to the community are a really important relationship,” said Henry Cutting, outreach manager at WXYC.

Other than disco, several other genres such as neo-soul, techno and house will likely be featured at the event, Cutting said.  

“I think there will definitely be a lot of traditional disco, but then I think there will be some cool mixes combining disco and electronic music — any kind of variations that you can think of somebody will probably come up with,” said Elinor Walker, WXYC station manager.

“We’re hoping our DJs take the definition of disco loosely, as well, and create some mashups between genres,” Cutting said. 

A WXYC staple for over a decade has been the decades' dances, Cutting said.

“WXYC has always done decades dances," Cutting said. "We would cycle through the 60s to the 2000s. We wanted to break that mold and make it more of a conceptual dance."

While disco is loosely associated with a decade, it goes beyond the confines of a decade, Cutting said. 

“The decades' dance theme is not gone forever, it is just existing in new forms,” Walker said.

Six DJs are playing at the event and all of them are current students with the station, Cutting said.

Unlike in the past, this year's WXYC will host their dance in the back room of Cat’s Cradle. 

"We’re hoping holding the dance in the back room creates a more intimate, authentic disco environment," Cutting said. 

The event is free with a One Card for active UNC students. Non-students can pay $5 to get into the event.

WXYC anticipates approaching full capacity in the back room and attendees should get there early to get a spot, Cutting said.

“The point to me is that everyone just has fun and dance a lot to good music with their friends,” Walker said. “What I look for in social events is good music and dancing. We’re doing our best to provide those things to people.”

This event is a great way to dance, listen to good music, hear new music and meet new people in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro community, Walker said. 

“People should go to this event because it offers a unique opportunity to experience a lively and upbeat atmosphere that falls outside the bounds of traditional UNC social events,” said Jake Wilson, WXYC production manager.

The event organizers also hope the dance will engage interest for future WXYC events, such as concerts or fundraisers in the future, Cutting said. 

“We hope attendees will get an awesome opportunity to dance and meet new people while getting to engage with the endlessly enjoyable musical project that is the disco genre,” Wilson said. 

Doors will open at 9:30 p.m. and the event will start at 10 p.m.

@emmatcraig

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