Before we start, I would like to give a shout-out to all of our Dance Music Initiative instructors and friends who have volunteered their time and have kept our community alive and thriving! A sincere thanks to everyone involved for doing what you love and sharing it with the rest of the world!
Here is a recap of some key events DMI has been doing in the local community last year and some exciting upcoming events planned for the beginning of this new year.
Upcoming Events
Saturday, January 18
We heard you like Drum & Bass so we wanted to let you in on a little secret warehouse party happening in Baldwin Park, CA (same location where we hosted Teachers’ Lounge IYKYK). This event is hosted by Refuge/Wendell Noel, a frequent guest teacher at our FREE weekly DJ lessons. Rumor has it DMI DJs T.A.B.U., BChang, and Dru will be dusting off their vinyl records for this one. Featuring sound by Inner Observers, the same team that powered one of the stages at the last SCI-FIGHTER desert rave. RSVP here to get the address on the day of the event. Free before 11pm so there’s no excuse not to support local DJs in our community.
Event Recap – Refuge Landmark
Back in November 2024, Drum & Bass promotional team Refuge made its comeback after a long hiatus by bringing back their Landmark event series. Here’s a few videos from that event. More reasons to join the next one where DMI DJs will be throwing down next week.
Event Recap – Deepwave
New Orange County electronic music event series Deepwave has sprung onto the scene. These guys have captured the right vibe from the start. It was like everyone who is into house music in Orange County was there. Proper tunes and mixing at this one.
Boogie Beacon
Guest Lecture at University of California, Irvine
Another truly unique opportunity arose when Bryan Chang, founder of DMI, crossed paths with Dr. Olson, a professor of Dance Anthropology at UCI. They connected over their shared passion for dance music, and Dr. Olson invited Chang to give a guest lecture to her college students. Chang delivered a lecture titled “Exploring the Evolution & Impact of Dance Music Culture,” which addressed the social role of the DJ and the therapeutic benefits of dance music. Chang reveled in the fact that the college students challenged him in new ways. “Future academic lectures at the UCI campus look promising,” says Chang, and he is excited to share his passion for dance music and knowledge with more people in academia.
Graduate #18: Antonius Wolf
Big ups to Anthony Centeno, one of our scholarship recipients of our 12-week DJ UniDiversity program in 2023. He understood that a mere 12 weeks is only the beginning of his DJ journey. After a few months of continuing his education at our FREE weekly lessons, Centeno passed our intro proficiency test in 2024.
Centeno is a Los Angeles based artist with a deep passion for music and a clear understanding of music being the heartbeat of any gathering. His musical tastes are as eclectic as Los Angeles itself. Whether it’s the groove of Afro-Latiné tunes, the pulse of Organica EDM, the doom gloom of EBM, or the classics of a bygone era, Centeno has the knowledge and versatility to curate a sonic experience that resonates with your event.
Annie’s Select
I’ve selected this melodic techno track by Turkish/Dutch DJ & producer Ummet Ozcan. We find ourselves driving home from work after the sun has gone down or just driving at night for whatever reason. Blasting this track during your evening drive might get you groovin’ in your car like it has done for me.
About the Author
My name is Annie and I’ve volunteered to bring you the latest news and events in our DMI community! As always, make sure you’re a member of our Facebook group to get more frequent updates on events and discussions.
♫ Annie, Dance Music Initiative volunteer and music aficionado.
Dance Music Initiative 