DJ Dance Profile / Interview 2008

So how did it all begin?
Back in 1987 I was into hip-hop at the time being a b-boy and I discovered the acid house movement the Balearic beat thing acid rock sticks out in my mind as one of the biggest trax back then, a few of London's finest djs started playing in Ibiza like 20yrs ago and they brought the happy vibe of new fresh beats euro style house. I grew up attending the Caister soul weekenders at a very young age gaining entrance into the venues. the movement back then was anything goes just pure and simple it was good music from soul/jazz/funk/acid house/early break beat/hip-hop/electro, I then moved along with the scene getting spotted by the Ravescene mag owners playing at telepathy in London being asked to do there record reviews and dj-ing at their parties @ labyrinth. this then got me noticed by few other promoters like Alpha Centuri holding raves at various venues in London. I was also spotted by another promoter in Nottingham then asked to play at a club called ZEST in Mansfield where I played bangin tech sets with djs Loftgroover and Carl Cox once a month. then on 31/12/92 big break for me when I was asked to play the fantasia in Berkshire big event didn't quite go all as planned but was still a good night

My most memorable years of dj-ing?
I remember back in the day 1989-1991 the euro sound like the r&s records it was like they where the only record company releasing tunes as they was putting out so many tunes at the time, the sound of Joey Beltram, then there was the b-sides compilations by Frank de Wulf on music man records the Belgium sound was amazing and was setting the uk on fire I played every weekend for like 2yrs before we saw the new change in direction with the uk breaks.

My personal preferences concerning music? I love to play oldskool events, and I will play to the crowd depending where I'm booked to play: funky house / breaks / old skool /drum n bass/filtered trance.

Where did the name come from?
the name came from me being a b-boy back in the day I was quite a good dancer and as i started to mix about with music every one kept chanting dance dance dance coz they all wanted me to dance but I guess it just had to be the name for me.

What gave you that initial push?
playing at a private party then being booked by one of the guests that owned a club. and i was hooked from there as the atmosphere got me hooked

Did the Djing, Production, Promoting come 1st?
dj-ing came first then as I progressed I got into promoting holding some very successful events and some not so good. then came the music production in 1994 working with dj SS / Bizzy B / Tekniq. producing some drum n bass tunes some having being signed to the world famous formation record label and some being released on Wardance records and a few white labels

Who’s throwing the best parties at the moment?
locally Pams house, nationally it has to be Global Gathering

Which other countries have you played/put parties on?
I have played all over Europe from France/Greece/Ibiza/Germany/Romania/Italy/Amsterdam/. played and held some events in Perth Australia with guest djs Slipmatt/Greg packer

What was the first event you ever played at/put on?
hyperbolic 1990 was the first rave i played at it was in a sports centre in Norfolk for around 2000 people, its been running now for like 18yrs or so, first event I put on was in 1995 another dimension was the company we held events all over the uk even in Australia the biggest event was a festival style event held in Norfolk for 7000

What’s the best event you’ve played at/put on?
best events I've played at are fantasia/ministry of sound. best event I held was 1997 another dimension event in Norfolk over 7 thousand people in attendance and more regular events where held at the winter gardens in Great Yarmouth with guest djs every month from Farley Jack Master Funk to Carl Cox

What was your first record you bought?
Adam Ant - Prince Charming

Out of all the tunes you have, which one ‘never fails?’
Congress-better grooves

What's you favourite tune of all time?
Two in a room-somebody in the house say yeah, 1998 cutting records

When all the partying is over how do you like to chill out?
Sleep

So how is the scene in your eyes at the moment?
Very strong, ever changing, there has been some ups and downs in the scene with the breaking away from anything goes into different genres

What's is your real name if you use an alias and how old are you?
Curt Johnson 37

Where do you live?
Great Yarmouth

What can you remember of playing/being at a Fantazia?
the sheer love from the crowd and unmatched atmosphere and the amount of people, big stage big crowd big sound system, my fav tune was the massive club hit don't go by awesome 3.

How big is your vinyl collection? What do you think of CDJ's?
I've amassed over 7 thousand tunes in my time, and as we move into new eras the cdj has become and is becoming the norm in most clubs and at events there is always a set up consisting of decks and cdj sometimes even usb the digital age is here and it kinda takes away the skillz that the djs had to learn in there apprentice years and it is definitly an easier time for the budding wanabe djs as digital skills are nothing like deck skills. we are entering a whole new world of dj skills.

Funniest thing that ever happened at an event?
Having some girl in front of me when i was playing a 5hr set in Germany reduced to tears I'm not sure if it was because she was in oar of my music/mixing or she was so faced she was shit scared...lol

What are your feelings on the MC's?
They have there place, they do a good job, there are good n bad MCs, they can lift the crowd to a whole different level for big stage events id say they are at there best. I rated MCs Moose, Mc Mc,  mc GQ,  Hyper & Fearless

What do you do outside of the dance music scene?
own a building company/kids amusement park

What advice would you give to up and coming DJs/Promoters?
keep up the good work I did my apprentice and warmed up for all the best djs from all over the world, i still do now

When you play is this pre planned set?
never i play for the crowd, I always take enough tunes for a 3hr set

When was the 1st time you visited Ibiza? Was it to holiday or to play?
back in 1992 to play for black n white

Anything else you want to say?
Id like to thank every promoter that has booked me over the years. and to all those people that have purchased my mix tapes from back in the day to all the people that have bought my tunes and cds recently.

If you could stage a rave anywhere, where would you choose?
Asia as they have some of the most beautiful landscape areas to hold massive outdoor events

How do you see the scene 5 years from now?
its hard to say as its for ever changing, this time last year everyone was saying breakbeat was still going to take the planet by storm but for right now it is still funky house.

If you had a time machine what year would you go back to and why?
1992 the years of the best raves from Raindance / Yikes Farnham centre slough to the South Mimms service meets to go the next illegal like hypnosis / Genesis / Energy / Sunrise

Knight Rider or A-team?
A-team

Any shouts you would like to make?
yes all the djs and promoters around the world i have had the pleasure to have worked with and for those I haven't yet.. I cant wait..

Wardance
side A1sleeplessness
side AA1jammin
released on formation records 1994 form 12046

formation white 006 wardance
formation white 020 dj dance
formation white 026 djdance

wardance records wdr002 djdance-menthol tunes
wardance records wdr003 djdance-ghost dance ep
wardance records wdr004 djdance-war of the dj world

Picture 1 back in the day wardance record showcase night at empire rooms 1995
what I enjoy most about dj-ing is that It is creative. You can give 2 DJs the same selection of records and what they will doo with them will be very different, its a personal thing. At the end of the day, it's not about the separate records, it's what you make of them.

THE MIXING SKILL
THE SCRATCHING
THE LONG MIX
CHOP MIX
QUICK MIX
QUALITY

There are too many narrow minded DJs or play it safe DJs as it is out there. a true DJ should educate as well as entertain.

Showing the roots and heritage of our learned skillz.....

My word by DJ DANCE uk

DJ Dance & The DJ Ladder

We've stood outside with flyers at some club 2 promote where were playing next time.

We've lugged our equipment over fields just to DJ at an illegal rave.

We've got our vehicles stuck in the mud at raves in the middle of the forest.

We've been at the station until 3am, than back again at 7am.

We've had to chase down a promoter to get paid.

we've spent hours on the road trying to get to the next gig on time picking up the odd driving penalty on the way.

We've spent hours in the studio, trying to perfect our mixtape/cds, then went back in again for changes. Played it for another DJ, than went back in a third time to make more changes.

We've been left by our friends at the record store who didn't want to wait as we stood looking for the perfect sample.

We've been asked to play a song that we just played...then asked to play it again...

We've searched for weeks for the graphic designer we paid who disappeared when we needed our artwork.

No matter what crew, what city what promoter or what artists we are working with... We connect with those that share our passion...

DJ DANCE has held residencies at many raves / clubs and trendy bars playing an eclectic mix of oldskool / funky house / breaks.

Residencies: TIFFANYS (OVER 10 YEARS).

RED SQUARE VODKABAR 1 & 2. WINTER GARDENS. CLUB ZEST. AND MANY MORE....

myspace.com/djdanceuk
bookings@djdance.co.uk

PROFILE

The ALIAS Names

DJ DANCE
WARDANCE
KURT JOHNSON
DJ (team)D.O.A

SOME OF THE PROMOTERS/CLUBS I HAVE THE PLEASURE TO WORK WITH:

Fantazia the Christmas Celebration @ Tiffanys Great Yarmouth
Ministry of Sound dj tours
Aquarium old St London
Elevation @ lee valley London
The famous FREE rave magazine called RAVESCENE
Labrynth the original 4 aces London
Raindance Jenkins lane London
Moondance
Gas club London
Raven Clacton
Temptation Newmarket
Hyperbolic East Anglia
Intense East Anglia
Pulse East Anglia
Proper stuff old skool illegal
Hypnosis old skool illegal
Dance paradise legendary Great Yarmouth
Matrix promotions Norwich
Tiffanys now the arena Great Yarmouth
Richards parties Great Yarmouth
Nuku - Great Yarmouth Europe
Another Dimension UK AUSTRALIA
Seduction Weekenders Great Yarmouth
ZEST in Mansfield

THE GOOD TIMES CURT REMEMBERS ATTENDING ALL THESE GIGS REGULARLY:

YIKES slough/ RAINDANCE Jenkins lane / ENERGY / BIOLOGY / WORLD DANCE / SUNRISE

Curt (dj dance) also was founder an co owner of a successful record shop called spooky tunes in the mid 90s in Great Yarmouth a record shop that catered for the needy DJs in the Yarmouth and surrounding areas in regards to getting the most upfront in dance records/cd-tape packs/merchandise and selling tickets for all the big events in and around the uk.. Curt moved on from the shop in the late 90s into other things.