DJ Dance Party

Type: Self-directed
Age: High school
Optimal size: 20+
Estimated cost: $100+
Planning time: 5+ hours
Frequency: One-time

Learning outcomes

• Build relationships with peers and adults, including those of different backgrounds and experiences
• Connect and collaborate with others
• Develop social emotional skills (e.g. self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making)
• Display an ability to communicate with others
• Engage in personal expression

Instructions

Supplies:

*We planned for 20 teens.

• Assorted utensils
• Cooler with ice
• Free book giveaways
• Free giveaways (bookmarks, button pins, etc.)
• Glow-in-the-dark balloons
• Glow-in-the-dark bracelets
• Napkins
• Paper plates
• Pizza (We factored in 2 slices per teen with a few extras, including a variety of single top and specialty pizzas.)
• Snacks (We purchased chips, cookie cake, candy, etc.)
• Soft drinks
• Water bottles

 Set Up and Instruction:

• To have a baseline to purchase food that teens liked, library staff polled our current teen volunteers by sending out a three-question survey by email asking their favorite types of pizza, beverage, and snack or dessert. This was done two weeks before the dance and helped when purchasing food as well as indirectly reminding a subset of our teens in the community about the dance.
• The DJ we used provided his own setup as well as a strobe light. For decoration, we purchased glow-in-the-dark balloons and bracelets. Six small round tables and chairs with tablecloths were set up at the back of the room.
• The dance was primarily self-directed. Although, we did give instruction about following library rules on appropriate behavior as needed.

Evaluation

Learning Outcomes:

The DJ Dance Party event focused on the social aspect and building community, connecting teens with teens and connecting teens to the library and library staff. The teen dance was opened to all, and the turnout that resulted included teens from different backgrounds and different schools, including a few teens that were common patrons of the library to many that were not. Several teens from a local teen group home attended and even a few homeschoolers. The dance was a great way for teens to meet, speak, and connect with teens outside their normal circles. Since about half the attendees arrived alone and without knowing anyone else prior to the program, many were challenged and met the challenge to reach and get to know their peers.

Music and dance are wonderful ways for teens to engage in personal expression, and the majority of the teens that attended were proactive about joining in with a few even learning new dance steps. We also allowed teens to sing karaoke for a part of the dance, allowing them to pick songs and share their interest in music with others.  

Improvements and Suggestions:

The DJ Dance Party can be a great way to get to know your teen patrons. Our department was excited about this event as a way to engage with the teens in our community, and we had a great turnout for our library of 23 teens, only a handful of which had been to the library or library teen programs before. In the hopes of having a good turnout, library staff pointedly aimed to connect with teens both in conversation and through a simple survey to learn about them, their interests, and what they would like to do at the library.

At the back of the room, we posted a range of program ideas each with a picture and short caption as well as a large blank sheet for teens to write about their hobbies, passions, and what they would like to learn. Stickers and markers were supplied for teens to select which program they like and make comments. Most of the teens participated in this passive survey to some degree. Overall, the takeaway from this informal survey helped our library staff get a better idea of who our teen audience is and what we can do for our library programs and collections to better benefit them and their needs.