Morning rave Pic: Kamal Badhey
Almost 1,000 Londoners danced the morning away today at Bethnal Green’s biggest morning-only rave to date.
Morning Glory’s Christmas Rave , an immersive dance experience somewhere between a wild party and a morning fitness routine, started at 6,30 and kept clubbers moving until 10,30.
The event bills itself as ‘an invigorating way’ to start the day for city workers.
The ‘rave’ was alcohol and drug free, serving fruit smoothies, coffee, water, and snacks instead. Ravers were treated to free massages, yoga, and heart-pounding DJ music from the Loose Cannons, Annie O and Mojo Filter.
The event has recently relocated to the Oval Space, an arts venue near Cambridge Heath station. It was previously held at Village Underground in Shoreditch.
Morning Glory is the brainchild of events producer Samantha Moyo and bodywork therapist Nico Thoemmes. The duo created the event “out of a shared passion for conscious clubbing, social change and good times.”
Attendees were dressed in an array of colourful costumes including giraffe onesies, pyjama pants, and Indian headdresses.
James Farrimond, 24, an accordion player, has attended Morning Glory every month since it launched in April.
Morning rave dancers Pic: Kamal Badhey
Farrimond said: “[Morning Glory] just pushes you into the day. The idea is for people to leave feeling happy and full of energy.”
He added: “It’s rare to find a fitness event that’s as fun as this. It’s a great way to meet new people. I’m not normally the kind of person who’ll get up in the morning and go to the gym. But this, I’ll happily get up in the morning and go to.”
Bajana Trtanj, 30, an entertainer whose dance troupe, The Salon Collective, regularly performs theatrics at Morning Glory, enjoys watching the crowd energize as the morning wears on.
Trtanj said: “We wake up really early to come here [before the event], so we’re already full of energy when everyone comes in. Some [ravers] come in very grumpy and sleepy, and so our job is to wake them up.”
“We enjoy dancing with everyone. Some people are a bit more shy so we dance with them and encourage them because this event is all about unity.”
Entrepreneur Becky Dell, 34, said she enjoyed going to clubs when she was younger but is now interested in something different.
“I’m a bit more career-focused now, and today’s been absolutely amazing,” she said. “I’ll definitely come back again.”
