Shake It Up at a Free, Virtual Social Dis-Dance Party to Combat Social Isolation

Global Dance Movement Daybreaker and AARP Team Up for a Free Virtual Social Dis-Dance Party to Combat Social Isolation

Featuring Dance Legends Debbie Allen, Village People, Gloria Gaynor and More

AARP is teaming up with Daybreaker, the global morning dance movement and wellness community active in 28 cities around the world, to present a virtual “social dis-dance” party aimed at inspiring connection, belonging and self-expression amid the coronavirus pandemic.

On Saturday, July 18, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET, people from across the globe are invited to join in a “Dancing Through the Decades” livestream experience, featuring hit songs from the ‘60’s, ‘70’s and ‘80’s with special live performances, including:

• An all-levels, all-ages dance class led by legendary choreographer and three-time Emmy Award Winner Debbie Allen
• A “YMCA” dance-along performance by Village People
• A performance by Gloria Gaynor, the Grammy Award winning singer of “I Will Survive”
• A live DJ set by DJ Jellybean

Older Americans may be experiencing feelings of loneliness and isolation during the global pandemic, and research shows that dancing together (even virtually) can be a powerful way to help stay connected and engaged. In fact, a new report released on June 30 by AARP and The Global Council on Brain Health found that music may help stimulate brain health, manage stress, and enhance mood and social connectedness.

“Music, dance and social connection can play a pivotal role in healthy aging and overall wellbeing according to research,” said Heather Nawrocki, AARP Vice President of Fun and Fulfillment. “Social isolation was an ongoing struggle for many older Americans even before the pandemic. An intergenerational music and dance event like this provides an opportunity for people to boost their health through physical activity and making connections, even as we are physically distant.”

When social distancing and stay-at-home regulations took effect this past March, Daybreaker quickly pivoted from in-person experiences, standing out as one of the first events companies to host an immersive virtual dance party via a two-way livestream. Daybreaker has since produced 13 back-to-back weekend episodes with 30,000+ community members from 85+ countries represented.

“Daybreaker is a community, first and foremost,” said Founder, CEO, Chief Community Architect and Social Entrepreneur Radha Agrawal. “It’s where we come together to unlock, connect and self-express through dance. It’s amazing what can happen when you bring a group of people together on a dance floor that’s totally unapologetic and gives you a true sense of freedom—even if that dance floor is in your own bedroom or kitchen.”

The family-friendly experience will begin at 11 a.m. ET with a 30-minute dance class led by dance icon Debbie Allen featuring fun choreography and famous dance moves from the featured decades like The Twist, The Moonwalk and The Hustle.

“I’ve always felt that dance is a universal language,” Debbie Allen said. “We are never closer than when we are all together dancing to the same beat and moving as one. It’s so exciting to be joining Daybreaker and AARP to bring the world together to celebrate the power of dance—its ability to connect us, to keep our brains healthy and to continue being an important mode of self-expression through every phase of our lives.”

The event will also include a free-form dance party with special performances — including a massive “YMCA” feature by Village People — and surprise celebrity guest appearances.

“We’re so excited to be working with Daybreaker and AARP to bring back the joy of the ‘70s and celebrate 40-plus years of disco together with two global communities,” the Village People said. “Performing on the virtual stage gives us a special opportunity to reach into the homes of so many people across the world, and doing the YMCA across time zones and country lines together will be a unique experience for us.”

To register for this free event, RSVP at Daybreaker.com/AARP.*

*This is not an AARP event. Any information you provide to the host organization will be governed by its privacy policy.

Event Details:

Daybreaker LIVE Presented by AARPDancing Through the Decades: A Global Virtual Dance PartySaturday July 18th
Online — Zoom Link via RSVP

Dance Class + Dance Party 11am - 1pm Eastern Time

FREE RSVP at Daybreaker.com/AARP

Media Contacts:

Kseniya Sovenko, Daybreaker Marketing & Comms, kseniya@daybreaker.com, 206-849-4242

Paola Torres, AARP, ptorres@aarp.org, 202-434-2555