Danseparc's Michael Jackson Tribute Night from the edge of the DJ booth: (Photo - Shoe Latif)

Nobody likes to see a party end, especially when it's a party like Danseparc. After seven years, though, the Montrose booty-shakin’ institution will spin its last DJ sets this Saturday.

To go out in style, DJs Shoe Latif and Michael Harwell will be joined by former Danseparc DJs Jaime, Faux Fancy, DJ Skully, and Mr. Pink Eyes. They will have free mix CDs and T-shirts to give away. In the midst of preparing for their farewell, Shoe and Michael were kind enough to talk with us about Danseparc's past, why it is ending, and what it meant to them.

29-95: What are the origins of Danseparc?

Danseparc's Michael, Shoe, and Allison: (Collage by Shoe Latif)

Shoe: Allison Shaw, Jen Lopez and I felt there was a void in Houston's nightlife since the departure of Metropol. We wanted to dance so we decided to put together a proposal for a monthly dance party. We never thought #s would go for it, but we decided to start at the top and go big and work our way down a list of potential clubs. We did really well in our test run and the rest is history.

29-95: Why do you feel you were able to sustain such a long run?

Shoe Latif

Shoe: It helped to remain a monthly event. We also strived to make each one special and to think outside the box. Weeklies are hard to do in this city and it also gets old fast. We were never out there week after week or even day after day like others might be. If you miss a weekly party, it's like "Ah, I'll just catch it next week...or the week after that." but with a monthly, you miss it and you have to wait a whole other month, so it gets people more into not missing it and, with our themes, would get them planning for it.

Michael: It helped that there was nothing else like Danseparc around. There were other great dance parties and DJ nights, but nothing that offered the mix of music that we did. Plus, we just loved doing it, the whole ritual of making a poster, spreading the word, getting ready, the anticipation of the night, seeing what would happen, playing great music for a couple hundred people. It was a great thrill.

29-95: Why call it quits now?

Michael Harwell

Michael: The time seems right to wind it down. We're both a little burned out and frustrated, and dealing with other things in our personal lives. For me, it could have something to do with my perception that there's nothing really exciting going on in music right now. I like Crystal Castles, don't get me wrong, but I find myself just wanting to play Fleetwood Mac all night.

Shoe: Danseparc has been running for seven years now. It's just Michael and I - I'm the last original member and he's been doing it for 4 years, I think. We just think it has run its course for now and, to be honest, 2009 has been a really hard year for me personally. I lost my aunt to breast cancer and, later that week, Leigh [Boone] was involved in that accident with the fire truck and later died. I had another friend die of complications from leukemia, another acquaintance just died of bone cancer, and another was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. It has all definitely affected me but, at the same time, we got burnt out a little. It's a lot of work to keep it going and it breaks our hearts when a night doesn't do well but then you have nights like the Michael Jackson tribute and it makes up for it. I also want to concentrate on making some music. There is a chance that in 2010 we might throw some parties here and there but probably nothing regular.

29-95:What were some of your favorite evenings?

#s Sign for Danseparc's Pretty In Pink: (Photo Shoe Latif)

Shoe: Recently - the Pretty In Pink tribute to Leigh Boone and the Michael Jackson tribute. The past is really fuzzy to me so that is about as far back as I can go.

Michael: The original Mustache Night; Krystal Shyt playing Dead Milkmen songs upstairs was awesome; Drag Night was fun (I wore a dress); our Valley Girl Tribute went really well, as did Catparc (lots of people send us pictures of their cats for the slideshow); and most recently, our Michael Jackson Tribute kicked total ass. I tend to most enjoy those nights in which I've invested a lot of time and energy into preparation and promotion, and where we have a large, enthusiastic crowd.

29-95: What were your more disastrous evenings?

Michael: We've had a few bombs too of course. Our Hair Metal Night and Wolf Shirt Night didn't go over so well (only two wolf shirts the whole night!) Most recently, and the catalyst for us calling it quits, was our very poorly attended Seven Year Anniversary party. I guess there was a lot going on that night, but it was also a failure because of our total lack of passion in promoting it.

29-95: How would you prepare for an event?

Stacey and Michael

Michael: Spending all day on the computer, going through your music, that's definitely part of the ritual. I liked theme parties that really challenged us, like our recent Hair Metal Night, and even Michael Jackson Night. I spent a good week researching and revisiting that music, getting ready for those nights, and I think we did those nights right. Scrambling to get everything together at the last second is also part of the ritual!

Shoe: I used to have a ritual where I’d prepare the music all day (sometimes part of the night before), rush to get ready, then swing by and get a pizza from Romano's. Part of that burnout process now is I haven't been putting in as much time on the music preparing. Why bother with new music when most people only want to hear what they know already? Naw, I'm not bitter. I understand it and I work with it. I'll find places to introduce it then bring it closer and closer to prime spots but it does suck when all the effort never pans out.

29-95: How would you pick your themes?

Shoe: It's all pretty random. Catparc was probably the most random; I'm an insane crazy cat lady and so are many of my friends. A lot of our themes are usually related to something going on that month. Some are inspired by old movies. We had wanted to do a Pretty In Pink tribute and it was Leigh's favorite movie so that sort of turned into a tribute to her. We've only done two color themes I think. We listen to a lot of that stuff outside of the club - one day it just infiltrates my psyche and I need to hear this at Danseparc.

Michael: Themes would be decided at meetings, throwing out our ideas and suggestions from friends. The Valley Girl Tribute and Catparc nights were requested by regulars/friends. I wasn't very good at coming up with themes - Shoe shot most of them down.

29-95: What theme night meant the most to you and why?

Michael: Our Seventies Night was pretty impressive. We only played music made from 1970 to 1979. We all worked hard for that one and it showed. That one was a great party.

Shoe and Jen

Shoe: The Pretty In Pink tribute to Leigh. She was looking forward to it and we thought of moving it back until she got better but then we realized the reality. We played about 90% of songs she loved, some from her own Itunes library. So many of her friends showed up. We all came together to remember something she loved doing - dancing. It felt like she was there. It was magical and emotional.

29-95: Are there any regulars who stood out?

Michael: When I started in 2005, there were three eccentric regulars I loved watching. Their nicknames were White Shoes, Happy Dancer, and Gothic Cowboy. All three were totally devoid of pretense; they were just there to dance, and dance they did. They don't show up so much anymore.

29-95: What can you walk away with from this experience?

FirstDanseparc: (Photo Shoe Latif)

Shoe: I can't really speak for Michael. You tend to gain more respect for what others are doing out there. (laughing) It has also helped me to learn how to manage projects.

Michael: I'm really lucky to have been a Danseparc DJ for so long. I can walk away proud, knowing that I worked hard and did a pretty good job. I'll also leave knowing I've forged a lifelong bond with Allison, Stacey, and Shoe.

29-95: What did you accomplish after all these years and what is left undone?

Michael: The only thing undone is a Beyonce/Destiny's Child Tribute Night with a special appearance by Beyonce!

29-95: Give us one memory that captures the spirit of Danseparc.

Shoe: When we first started, we used to decorate the place. We hung shower curtains on the stage, we had Ikea furniture around like these translucent chairs with lights in them, and we had some sort of lettering on them that would spell out Danseparc. Someone rearranged it to read Pransedarc - we thought it funny and it sort of propelled from there into a joke.

Michael: Maybe Sexy Attack? Sexy Attack came to Danseparc and did their thing and it was silly and goofy but people loved it and went apeshit and joined in at the end and danced like crazy. I don't know that I could pinpoint the spirit of Danseparc but it seems like some of it was embodied in that moment.

The final Danseparc is Saturday at Numbers Doors open at 9:30 p.m.