“It’s an afterwork concept, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., exclusively for women, aimed at mothers, but not only. Those who want to unwind after a day of work or the children’s school-homework-bath-dinner tunnel.explains Constance d’Amécourt, who organizes Diva Evenings in Paris with two friends.
Tuesday 7:30 p.m. The dance floor at Raspoutine, near the Champs-Elysées in Paris, is crowded and will remain so until 10 p.m. Under the red lights, dozens of women dance to remixed disco.
“We’re partying straight away, it’s efficient, there’s no time to waste, we’ll be able to go to bed early, be reunited with our husband and children“, rejoices Julie, 37 years old, communications manager.
The only men are the waiters and a host who launches choreographies to “uninhibit those who do not dare to dance”.
The “Maman va danser” concept was launched in Germany, and numerous versions have developed in France in recent months, at the initiative of young women, in Paris, Marseille, Toulouse, La Rochelle, Rouen, Lyon, Nantes and Lille.
For the second Diva evening in the capital, in mid-March, all 260 places were sold in five days. Mostly aged 30 to 60, they arrive from work at 7 p.m. Dalida with “Let me dance” kicks off the evening with a choreography performed by everyone.
Many come in groups. “We met while kite surfing and we see each other twice a month, in restaurants or in dance classes. It’s one more activity“, explains a female doctor. Flore, who works in human resources, mother of four children between 3 and 9 years old, came with five friends.
“Bubble of joy”
“The atmosphere is complicated at the moment, it’s good to take your mind off things, it’s a bubble of joy“, rejoices Martine, 71, whose husband “doesn’t like dancing”.
“My husband showed me a documentary about these evenings in Germany, I called people in the event, I talked about it to those around me, and I said to myself +It’s worth a try!+“, explains one of the organizers Lucie de Gourcuff, who would like to organize two Diva evenings per month. The third is planned for April 8 in a place that will accommodate twice as many people.
Why without men? “In the presence of men, women pay more attention to their look, wonder what people will think of them or are seductive. There we let go“, confides Isaure, two children aged 5 and 7.
“Some appreciate not being disturbed by the male population who can be a little pushy in the evenings. When I go out, I don’t let go of my glass, for fear that someone will pour something into it. There we feel confident“, explains Kelly Forêt, 32, who works in real estate and launched the “Mom and her friends” evenings in Nantes.
The glasses are placed on the tables without supervision. At the bar, we serve non-alcoholic champagne, rosé, Coke zero, Ice Tea. The Diva evening formula, for 45 euros, includes drinks and a light buffet: salmon, fruit, cherry tomatoes and macaroons.
It’s 10 p.m., Dalida sings “Die on stage” and Cinderella has to go home. “I feel like it’s already two in the morning“, says Indre, mother of two children aged one and five.
“But we’re not tipsy or tired. At 11 p.m. I will be in bed, and tomorrow ready at 7 a.m. for the children’s Nesquick“, smiles Elisabeth.