Picture a dance floor packed with people grooving the night away, lasers and lights soaking everything in a warm technicolor glow, and of course, a DJ bumping some stellar tunes. We all know the scene, this is midnight at some club on Ibiza or something; right?
Nope, it’s 6 a.m. and the only mood altering substance in sight is caffeine (and even that doesn’t actually arrive until about 7:30 a.m.). Welcome to Daybreaker, a bi-monthly rave style function that runs from 6 – 9 a.m. and is 100% free of drugs or alcohol. Bored with New York’s standard nightlife, founders Matt Brimer and Radha Agrawal decided to try something new:
Nightlife can be exclusionary. It can be judgmental. It can be dark… What if we turned it on its head and turned it into a different experience; create something that was really positive for people, almost tribal in its euphoria
-Brimer
With that intention in mind, the two friends created the world’s first early morning rave. And it has been incredibly successful; only a year and a half later, Daybreaker parties can be found not only in New York, but in San Francisco and Los Angeles as well. There are plans to bring imprints to Washington, D.C., Sao Paolo, Amsterdam, Tel Aviv, Sydney and beyond. Each event draws between 400 to 600 people and tickets cost between $25 – $40. So, what is it exactly that gets people out of bed in the wee hours of the morning for a rave?
It’s a well known fact that exercise and staying active releases chemicals in our brain like endorphins, which generally make us feel happier. However, dance is different; according to the New England Journal of Medicine, dancing not only releases endorphins, but also improves perception and mental acuity. It’s no surprise that Daybreaker attendees report increased productivity and reduced stress levels; when this unique release of chemicals is coupled with a strong sense of belonging and external motivation, you can’t help but feel like you could conquer the world.
So, if you’re feeling adventurous and are tiring of the night owl life, this might just be what you’ve been looking for. Check out a more firsthand account of the Daybreaker experience here and enjoy the sunrise for us if you end up attending one.
[H/T: FastCompany]
