World Famous Dance Party Stimulates Senses

Ace Hotel Hosts Once-A-Month Gathering

Sarah Scheideman Arts & Entertainment, Social Scene

World Famous -- a dance party at the Ace Hotel -- makes the resort one of the hottest spots in Palm Springs
Sarah Scheideman

Pulling up to the World Famous party, the clock strikes 11 p.m. on a hot summer night in Palm Springs. 

It’s August, and the temperature is about 90 degrees outside – even at this late hour. 

As I walk into the cool lobby of the bohemian chic Ace Hotel you can hear the subtle rumble rolling out from under the Amigo Room’s door. It’s a deep bass that slightly rattles the room with faint shrieks and hollers coming from dance floor. 

As warm as it may have been outside, I know it won’t be anything in comparison to what’s brewing ahead on the other side.

The doors open and immediately, a thick layer of warmth wraps around me and pulls me in like a wave to the sea of people all partying in this room. 

Wanting to make my way across the dance floor, I realize the only way there it is to dive right in and ride the wave with them.  I join everyone else by throwing my hands up and singing along to the familiar song, letting my hips guide my way through the crowd. 

Centerpiece to this wild ocean of colliding people is DJ Alf Alpha.  His presence is magnetic.  The crowd gravitates to him, tightly wrapping themselves around the stage, leaving little to no space between the DJ and his two turntables. 

He cuts the vinyl left and right, right and left, from one song into the next.  The crowd keeps up, their hips moving rhythmically along with the beat.  As soon as the second song drops their hands fly up to ceiling and they shout, as if to embrace it whole heartedly. 

Hands tower above me and sway around.  Hips lock and rock together.  The whole bar is in synch with one another, the synergy is amazing, and just as the energy of the audience almost a reaches boiling point I manage to swiftly make way to the back of the room and place an order at the bar.

With the World Famous party’s signature drink in hand, The Jet Setter (tequila, frambroise, peach schnapps and lime juice), I slip on out the back door and upon the romantically lit Moroccan Patio outside. 

People out here are calm and composed, making eye contact and engaging in good conversation.

While cooling down, I slide into an open space at the wooden benches that are topped with mounds of interesting art supplies.  The art supplies are free for the taking, only deal is that you must hand craft your own party souvenir. 

The girl to the right of me is crafting a flowery headband, the man sitting in front of me made a felted mustache, together we all share laughs and memories over the last time we worked with these nostalgic kinds of materials.  Within minutes I manage to whip up own party hat, full of feathers, pipe cleaners, buttons and sequin.   

I re-enter the party with a new attitude, as I am quickly complimented on my new hat by other strangers who looked like they had spent some time at the craft table as well. 

I find my way back onto the dance floor and am joined by new friends.  Together we lose ourselves in the sea of people and dance the night away.

The World Famous Dance and Craft Party takes place every last Saturday of the month, inside the Amigo Room of the Ace Hotel, from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

World Famous Dance Party
Amigo Room inside the Ace Hotel
701 E. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs
760-325-5500
21+ / Free