Every Day's a Party -- if You Know Where to Go
By Fritz Hahn
Washington Post Weekend Section
Friday, August 11, 2006

Sunday: Waiting For 'The Man'

When Red closed last September, the regulars worried about the future of the Underground Soul Solution, the weekly Sunday night jam that DJ Sam "The Man" Burns had built into a family-style party that some regulars compared to "going to church." Eschewing a few extra hours of sleep for a chance to extend their weekend partying, Burns's flock was one of the most diverse crowds in Washington: black, white and Asian; gay and straight; male and female.

Luckily, Burns, along with doorman Mustafa Akbar, were able to move around the corner to the second-floor lounge at Dragonfly, a chic club better known for its minimalist decor and sushi menu. Thankfully, the vibe is intact: The lights are turned all the way down, with a soft glow coming from red lanterns hanging over the bar. More important, the crowd still comes to dance -- not stand around and talk, though that happens -- not for a pick-up scene or to pose on a couch. There are few DJs around who can keep the energy as high and the crowd dancing as hard as Burns, as he cues up one funky house and disco cut after another, the soulful thump filling the room.

Burns and the crowd feed off each other: He'll goad them into dancing harder, and they'll respond with rubber-limbed energy, forming loose jam circles, cheering each other on with a loud "You go, girl!" or "All right!" after an impressive burst of moves.