Daybreaker Offers Collective Joy During The Trauma Of The Covid Pandemic

Aside from being a great workout, dance has been proven to reduce stress, boost self-esteem and even improve memory and cognitive function – making it the perfect way to start your day. Launched in 2013 by Radha Agrawal, Daybreaker hosts sober early morning dance parties, which also include yoga and meditation, virtually and in cities around the world such as New York, LA and Tokyo. Past performers have included Matthew Morrison, Julianne Hough, and Gloria Estefan.

“In eight years, we have grown our community with almost zero dollars spent on marketing from 0 to over 500,000 members in 28 cities worldwide,” says Agrawal, who is also the author of the bestselling community how-to book Belong. “We dance with reckless abandon without alcohol or drugs. Our ultimate goal is to unlock and practice joy and suck the marrow out of life!”

Obviously, Daybreaker took a big hit at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. All event sponsors abandoned them within one week. Agrawal and her team were forced to shift rapidly from waking up at sunrise in the most iconic locations across the globe – Freedom Tower, Central Park, Sydney Opera House, Smithsonian and White House, to name a few – to hosting parties entirely virtually. The organization worked frantically to rebuild in order to go online. Fortunately, they were able to find sponsors for these virtual dance parties, including AARP Chase, Marriott and Tushy.

Since the arrival of the vaccine, Daybreaker has again been able to host in-person events. All guests are required to be fully vaccinated. The inaugural post-lockdown dance party was held at over 1000 feet, at the top of Edge NYC. 

“As a community architect, I’ve watched how we are living in states of collective trauma and moving up the rung to states of collective okayness,” says Agrawal. “But collective okayness is not enough to really meet the edges and magic of this life. To practice and rise up to collective joy – now that’s the alchemy of our human existence that makes life deeply meaningful! During Covid, we’ve lost lives not only to the pandemic but to depression, anxiety, loneliness and social isolation. What could be more important than supporting collective joy? This isn’t frivolous work. Celebration and dance are the fabric and backbone of a worthwhile human experience. Joy makes us care about the planet more. Joy makes us care about each other more.”

That having been said, delivering collective joy to thousands of people across the globe isn’t easy. Agrawal admits that the work – of production, ticket sales, sponsorships, and planning revenue lines during a finicky events industry made that much more challenging due to a social distancing pandemic – can be backbreaking. “This is a business for masochists who do it for the deep love of gathering,” she exclaims.  

Nevertheless, Agrawal remains deeply aligned with her life purpose in running Daybreaker. “Collective joy and belonging are my ultimate ‘why.’ Belonging is the root of joy and a life well lived, and dance is the ultimate courageous expression of joy. About 80 minutes into a dance party, something unlocks on the dance floor. There’s a heart opening that is palpable and undeniable. Pain transmutes to joy. Trauma transmutes to gifts. Me becomes we. If you can stay on the dance floor long enough to experience that pocket of collective joy, it takes you to heights you could never get to on your own. Try it. At sunrise. Without alcohol. With a community of courageous hearts. And see what happens.”

To those looking to tap into their life purpose, Agrawal offers this advice. “The key is knowing your VIA – your Values, Interests, and Abilities (which will shift every few years, but do it now). I have 20 exercises in my book Belong to help you come home to your life purpose. The VIA exercise is an important one. Also, pick your community intentionally. They should inspire you and support you to achieve your deepest purpose. You can’t do it alone!”