Giving It a Positive Spin

As three of the world’s top-drawing DJs, Paul Oakenfold, Paul Van Dyk and Sasha had their choice of almost any gig on the globe for New Year’s Eve, the dance world’s ultimate party night.

London, Buenos Aires, Sydney and other meccas of this music beckoned, but all three stars will be in Los Angeles come Monday, at either the Spundae-sponsored Center of the Universe on Hollywood Boulevard or the Giant-produced Giant Village on the grounds of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

How did a city whose anemic millennium observation was a laughingstock around the world score this coup?

There are a number of reasons, including the glamour of Hollywood and the growing credibility of L.A.’s electronic music scene. But if any single factor can be singled out, it was the presence of Van Dyk at last year’s inaugural dance on Hollywood Boulevard.

“Last year was a milestone, not only for L.A., but for the States,” says Dave Dean, who manages the dance club Giant and worked with Gene LaPietra of Circus to create that party. “To be able to have one of the top DJs in the world DJ an event like this really put L.A. on the clubbing map.”

Van Dyk’s participation was based largely on his relationship with Dean’s club.

“I played for Giant a couple of times and they are very good promoters. They do everything as professionally as they can,” says the German DJ. “This is something, when you work and travel a lot, that you really appreciate.

“So when they asked me to come to L.A. and play New Year’s Eve at Hollywood Boulevard, I thought it was a good idea. L.A. is one of the most thriving cities in the music and film industries, and I have a lot of friends there.”

Van Dyk’s endorsement and the success of the event piqued the interest of Oakenfold, who will be performing on the boulevard Monday, and Sasha, who will join Van Dyk and his friends from Giant in the area around the Coliseum, where they expect to draw about 12,000 dancers.

Spundae, Giant’s cross-town rival, is staging this year’s Hollywood dance, which hopes to double last year’s attendance of 10,000. (A third event, the all-ages rave Together as One, will be held at the L.A. Sports Arena adjacent to the Coliseum and will admit holders of Giant Village tickets.)

All in all, it’s quite a turnabout--one that Van Dyk also attributes to the city’s electronic music scene, which commands increasing respect on the global front.

“In the L.A. area, there have been a lot of very influential American DJs, like Christopher Lawrence, Taylor and Sandra Collins, and they played a big part in it,” he says.

LaPietra, who created and produced last year’s Hollywood event with Giant and is producing this year’s with Spundae, believes it’s also a testament to the community.

“This says a whole lot about the fans,” he says. “Artists are showing their respect to the fans.”

Oakenfold agrees. “When I played the Mayan [in the early ‘90s], it seemed like there was no focus,” the Englishman says. “Over the last few years, since Giant opened, it seems like it’s really grown and now there’s a club scene there.”

Finally, don’t underestimate the allure of Hollywood Boulevard. For locals, it may be just another street, but for those who grew up elsewhere, it has deep significance.

“I’ve always been interested in Hollywood Boulevard,” Oakenfold says. “When I tell my friends I’m playing Hollywood Boulevard on New Year’s Eve, they’re like, ‘Oh, my God.’ It’s a landmark.”

Although he’s playing the rival event, Englishman Sasha seconds the emotion: “DJ-ing on the boulevard in the middle of Hollywood just sounds very glamorous.”

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Center of the Universe, with Paul Oakenfold, Deep Dish, BT, others, Hollywood Boulevard (entrance at Ivar Street), 7:30 p.m. $80 (VIP passes, $175). Tickets available only in advance. Proceeds go to several Hollywood charities. (323) 462-1291.

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Giant Village, with Paul Van Dyk, Sasha, Derrick Carter, Jimmy Van M, others, Coliseum Gardens, 3911 S. Figueroa St., L.A., 8 p.m. $75 (VIP tickets $150). (323) 464-7373.