04/25/2023
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ptyronepresents
Wednesday, April 24, 2023
ptyronepresents Presses Pause on PLAY T-Dance
ROMP T-Dance to take its place as Up Your Alley’s Official Closing Party
San Francisco, CA – ptyronepresents has announced that it has placed the production of its signature Dore Alley weekend closing event — PLAY T-Dance — on pause and has no plans to the produce the event for the foreseeable future. Current PLAY co-producers Brian Kent Productions and Paradigm are launching new party called ROMP T-Dance to take its place going forward, beginning Sunday, July 30, during Dore Alley weekend.
“PLAY has had an incredible 20-year run here in the San Francisco Bay Area, and now seems like the right time to step away. I’m so grateful to each and every person who had a hand in its success over the years. There are literally too many names to list here,” explains co-founder P Tyrone Smith-Cunha. “Suffice it to say, I did not create and produce PLAY year after year by myself. It has been the quintessential San Francisco experience to collaborate with so many talented, creative, and devoted folks to build such an enduring brand that brought joy to so many who experienced its magic.”
Since 2001, PLAY T-Dance has been welcoming guests to the dance floor to flirt, frolic, and dance as the official closing party of Up Your Alley™ Weekend in San Francisco. During the past 20 years, PLAY became one of the Bay Area’s most popular and longest-running dance events, notorious for its unique and engaging themes, abundant hospitality, unrivaled production values, and the most uplifting and energetic tea dance music on the left coast.
Created out of a response to a club scene that was mired in sketchy music and crystal m**h, P Tyrone Smith and Chuck Conner, co-founders of PLAY T-Dance, envisioned an immersive event where folks would gather and dance to beautiful, sexy, and melodic music. They focused on hospitality and high production values to create a welcoming and fun experience for guests.
After anchoring Up Your Alley™ Weekend as the official closing party for several years, the PLAY brand expanded was also produced President’s Day Weekend, Veteran’s Day Weekend, and Lazy Bear Weekend for many years.
Over the years, tens of thousands q***r community members have found their way to the PLAY dance floor and experienced incredible musical journies, spun by world-class DJ talent. DJs like Susan Morobito, Bryan Hughes, Warren Gluck, Lydia Prim, Craig Gaibler, John LePage, Joe Gauthreaux, Steve Sherwood, Reed McGowan, Wayne G, Andy Almighty, Ted Eiel, Byron Bonsall, Pete Savas, and Russ Rich each brought their own special brand of tea dance music to San Francisco.
In 2013, ptyronepresents made a significant shift in the production of PLAY and named DJ Russ Rich PLAY’s resident DJ, after he spun for PLAY the weekend of Up Your Alley, to rave reviews.
“I knew early in his career that Russ Rich had that ‘som**hing special,’ declares P Tyrone. “While most DJs just throw down one random track after another, Russ has an uncanny ability to craft a musical journey from beginning to end, with music that reflects the personality of the party. In particular, Russ’ mastery of the tea dance genre takes my breath away every time I hear him spin. It perfectly aligns with my vision of what tea music should sound like. Fun, melodic, uplifting, and sexy — the perfect mix of classic anthems, current hits, and emerging artists and songs that beckons everyone to the dance floor. Russ is an incredible dj and an even more delightful person. I really enjoyed collaborating with him each year.”
Early on in his DJ career, Russ became known for his happy and uplifting vocal style. After several years spinning local bars and T-Dances, he graduated to headliner status, playing peak time sets at clubs like “Industry” at Mighty, “Hero” at Ruby Skye, and “Colossus” at 1015 Folsom. In 2011, Russ won “San Francisco’s Next Top DJ” competition, and in 2013, he won a nationwide contest for Gay Internet Radio Live.
Since then, Russ has been able to set himself apart from other djs through his versatility, creativity, and professionalism. He is able to take calculated musical risks because he builds trust with the crowd, slowly constructing his sets one song at a time. He is able to distinguish dance music genres and remixing styles, and uses his knowledge and mixing skills to create a seamless and exhilarating experience for everyone on the dance floor. Whether it’s a peak set on a Saturday night, an opening set for another headlining dj, or an afternoon tea dance, Russ never disappoints.
Russ has also made a name for himself co-producing dance remixes. His original collaboration with DJ Phil B (“Insane”) became a #1 hit on Dance World Radio. Since then, he has co-produced dozens of popular remixes with Leo Frappier, DJ Philip Grasso, and Andy Allder. Just this year, Russ released a cover of Tina Turner’s “I can’t stand the rain” with Debbie Holiday to wide acclaim, and has been on the dance music charts for nearly three months.
PLAY T-Dance has also enjoyed the reputation of being one of the few flagger-friendly and flow arts-friendly parties in the entire nation. P Tyrone and the entire production team worked closely with the local and national flow artist communities to give them a space where they could showcase the beauty of flagging, fanning, and poi. This included a dedicated flow arts stage flooded in black light during the entire event, and often a special lounge for flow artists.
“As an avid flagger myself, it was imperative to me that the flow arts community was showcased all night long. Our production teams always went to great lengths to collaborate with the flow arts community to share the stage during the night so that we could also showcase other talent and performances. The flow-arts community members were always incredible logistics partners helping to bring to life some of the most amazing peak moments ever imagined,” exclaims P Tyrone. “ I especially want to acknowledge Xavier Caylor, who is not only my personal flagger-daddy, but also an important mentor and advisor. Without his support and the support of the flow-arts community PLAY T-Dance would never have succeeded.”
In January, P Tyrone informed Brian Kent Productions and Paradigm that PLAY was being paused to give them time to create an entirely new event to pick up where PLAY would leave off and continue to evolve the t-dance into the future. The name of the new party is ROMP T-Dance, and will take place during the same time slot on Sunday, July 30, 2023, immediately following Up Your Alley Street Fair.
The co-producers of PLAY have journeyed down the rabbit hole and found themselves at a bemused t-party: ROMP. Follow the kinky characters to the infamous 1015 Folsom for a night of deviance and wonderment. Resident DJ/Producer Russ Rich has brewed up his unique blend of psychedelic black tea with notes of vocal house, leather, peak-time anthems, rubber, and harder, driving rhythms. Be mesmerized by mystifying performances, mind-bending visuals, and spectacular lighting & lasers. Dance once again under the disco ball in the wonderland that is our diverse community. ROMP benefits Folsom Street and Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation. For more information, visit rompsf.com.
“For many reasons, it’s time for me to press ‘pause’ on PLAY,” explains P Tyrone. “Few San Francisco dance parties can boast a 20-year life-span with a reputation that has endured. I’m ready to take an extended break from the San Francisco q***r dance scene, while we’re still at the top of our game, so I can focus on some more personal priorities. I have immense gratitude for Brian Kent, Philip Grasso, Simon Tam, Jonathon Polly, Russ Rich, and many others who stepped up in 2019 to keep the PLAY brand alive after a short hiatus. PLAY is a very special production that has challenged and transformed the Bay Area q***r dance scene. It’s now time for me to step aside to encourage new ideas and promote other local promoters who are dedicated to the local q***r dance scene. I can guarantee that you are going to love what Brian Kent Productions and Paradigm have in store for you when they launch ROMP this Up Your Alley Weekend. I’ll see you there!”
For those that are curious P Tyrone Smith-Cunha married the love of his life Rafael Cunha-Smith in December of 2017. Since then, P Tyrone has been successfully running his non-profit consulting firm Do Good Stuff. He works with non-profits as a fundraising event consultant, interim staffing consultant, and a fundraising and database technology consultant. In 2019 P Tyrone and Rafael opened AWROOF! Pet Concierge, offering dog walking, pet sitting, and pet taxi services in San Francisco. In 2019 P Tyrone was diagnosed with cancer and went through four months of intense radiation and chemotherapy, followed by nearly 18 months of physical and mental health recovery. Today P Tyrone is cancer free. After enduring the pandemic together, P Tyrone and Rafael are now both experiencing much professional success and personal joy. In addition to their careers, they spend four days a week doing CrossFit, and enjoy spending time with friends and traveling. In June of 2023, P Tyrone and Rafael will finally get the chance to visit Brazil and meet Rafael’s family.
Media Contact:
P Tyrone Smith
Do Good Stuff
(415) 786-9611
[email protected]
