A do or Dyk affair ’til dawn

It was definitely worth the two-year wait for hardcore electronic music lovers as internationally-renowned German electronic artist and DJ Paul van Dyk performed again in Manila last Nov. 16 to over 4,000 raucous clubbers.

Supported by Smart zed and produced by Natural Born Klubbers (NBK), the event, called Politics of Dancing (after Van Dyk’s recently released album on the Ministry of Sound label), will definitely be remembered as THE dance event of the year.

True-blue NBK resident and one of the country’s top DJs Manolet Dario warmed up the eager crowd with a mesmerizing remix of progressive and Latin house music tracks. Dario’s performance plus the anticipation of Van Dyk’s succeeding three-hour set revved up the crowd.

When Van Dyk started spinning, an electrifying energy surged throughout the colossal hall-turned-dance venue of the Casino Filipino Amphitheater. Veteran clubbers from warehouse parties, the local club scene’s early predecessors were present and were joined by recent converts to the burgeoning local club scene who have discovered club music and lifestyle.

Even at 2:30 in the morning, the line snaked all the way to the parking lot embrace near the NAIA main road. Nobody seemed to mind, as the city’s best partyphiles were just so excited to experience Van Dyk’s unique electronic music.

The overall effect was complemented by John Batalla’s lighting direction, an impressive laser show from British outfit Argon Animation and sounds and lights from Radius. Visual effects animation by Solia projected on a huge screen provided additional stimulation.

Paul van Dyk has been hailed as among the best international DJs along with superstar DJ’s John Digweed, Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Carl Cox and Sasha and his albums containing club classics such as Forbidden Fruit and For An Angel have topped charts worldwide.

Smart subscribers who downloaded Paul van Dyk ringtones and logos as well as Smart Money subscribers got treated to P100 off the entrance ticket price. Cooler still, even after the party, their phones will be ringing to the tune of Forbidden Fruit or For An Angel.