The Politics of Dancing

Anthony Joyce has always been interested in politics; the problem, he says, has been getting his peers as involved as he is. In 2004, then 18-year-old Joyce ran for mayor of Pembroke Pines, earning over 2000 votes. He ultimately lost the race, but the experience opened his eyes to a vital political issue: “Out of the 90,000 voters in Pembroke Pines, only 18,000 showed up to vote,” Joyce says of the election. “There were other important issues on the ballet, so it bothered me that turnout was so low, especially among young people.”

Joyce admits he couldn’t blame young voters for being apathetic. He says the current system that parties are using to gain political interest isn’t working, and that people his age (he’s now 21) think politicians are only interested in them when it’s voting time. So Joyce and two of his friends – Matthew Baratz, a student at FAU, and Alexander Lewy, a congressional aide for Kendrick Meek – have decided to take matters into their own hands. They’ve started Party Politics, an organization aimed at raising their generation’s interest in politics by approaching them on their own terms. “Most young people have busy lives, so we thought, ‘Why don’t we incorporate what our generation does – say going to a club on Friday night – and provide entertainment in addition to an opportunity to explore the political realm?’” Joyce says.

And that’s just what they’ll do. Joyce and company are inviting all peeps to join them in a throw down at Passion Nightclub (5701 Seminole Way, Hollywood) this Friday. The party won’t be heavily political; they just want people to show up and have a good time in hopes they’ll come back for more politically themed events in the future. Admission is free if you bring a printed flyer from www.yourpartypolitics.com, and it includes access to the sponsor’s VIP room and open bar from 10 p.m. to midnight.
Fri., Nov. 9, 10 p.m., 2007