By Sal Ghamo

The Union Square Dance Party provided kids with an opportunity to cut loose and have some fun, while letting parents hang out and enjoy themselves too.

On Saturday, April 9, Somerville residents busted a move at the Union Square Dance Party. The Kids Union and Arts Union teamed up for an outdoor dance party on the Union Square Plaza. The crew spent all winter hosting indoor dance parties for kids, but they’ve had a big hankering to get outside and dance in the fresh air.

Aaron Cohen, the front man in this collaborative effort, talked about the origin of the dance parties and how they are a serviceable venue that the community can benefit from: “I started doing the dance parties in January at Thunder Road. It was basically because I didn’t want to stand out in the park with my kid when it’s freezing cold. We wanted a place to go inside, so we started doing dance parties inside.”

This is regarded as an important outlet for people who want to do something leisurely in conjunction with having a fun experience with the whole family. “It’s kind of just looking for stuff for kids to do on the weekend that isn’t too expensive, but it’s also an opportunity for parents to socialize. A lot of times parents don’t feel 100% comfortable hanging out with their kids at a bar,” Cohen said. On Saturday in Union Square Plaza, there was beer on draft and music appropriate enough for all ages to get funky.

Nina Eichner, The Special Events Manager of The Somerville Arts Council, elaborated on how this collaboration came to fruition. “Aaron partnered with us through our Arts Union Series to have this event be a free public event outdoors. We do a lot of events in the spring and in the fall in Union Square, [as well as] different festivals,” Eichner said.

According to the organizers, the dance parties are an extraordinarily cost-effective way to give kids an opportunity to express themselves and celebrate their community. The events are enjoyable for all members of the family because kids can take an extroverted approach to the party, while parents are able to sit back, have a drink, and enjoy the festivities.

The next dance party will take place on Sunday, April 24, starting at 4:00 p.m., and there will be no charge.