According to hushed wHispers (be sure to pronounce that ‘H’) of the hotel staff, some of the guests of years past remain there in spirit.  While we didn’t cross paths with any spectral partiers, I daresay they would have had a blast.  Your loss, ghosts.

As the Roger Williams University Seniors emerged onto the seventeenth-floor Grand Ballroom, perched atop the city itself, we were ready for them.  Matt “The Hamma” Duhamel — GB’s newest resident DJ and the winner of GrooveBoston’s “Golden Hammer” Award — was ready to rock when the fancy chandeliers dimmed.  United in dance party spirit, we embarked together on a journey of dance music.  As Pjanoo guided us through an emotional peak,  we just wiped the tears away and pressed on, letting the soothing words of House of Pain ease us back down to a manageable euphoria.  “Jump Around,” they urged, “Jump Around.” And we did.

What a night.

As we checked out the next morning, we thanked the woman at the desk, and mentioned that it had been a great party the night before.  “Party?” she replied, “our ballroom was closed in 1959… fifty years ago this week.”

Just kidding… the party was real.  I think.

The event started like you’d expect:  An intense stillness as the room shifted from “build mode” to “show mode” and the RWU event staff took their positions; down-tempo beats to ease the room into the all-out craziness that would follow; the steady transition from empty space to packed dance floor as students flowed in.  But after the opening live set, something strange happened.

The area below the stage started glowing bright white as the music stopped, replaced by the signature “GrooveBoston countdown.”  And then the stage began to rise — suspended from rigging motors and chains — until we we were literally rocking the crowd from the rafters.

The stage was FLYING.  The height changed a few times throughout the night, creating an undeniably unique, dynamic element — and giving us, by FAR, the best seat in the house.

The room was also outfitted with a serious lighting rig, reminiscent of late-80s rock concerts.  No coincidence there:  The East Coast Lighting crew on the scene included Joe Nieuwendyk, who was AC/DC’s crew chief for about 100 shows during their Blow Up Your Video World Tour in ’87 and ’88  (but I’m sure “the flying DJs of GrooveBoston” are now highly ranked among Joe’s adventures in the production world).

You did it again, Roger Dubbs: As always, we had a blast.

[sigh of relief]. Sorry “Twist and Shout,” I think Flo-Rida’s got us covered.

We did, of course, dip into the oldies of Ultimate Dance Party 1997, true classics like “Jump Around,” and even a new mix of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” but we managed to steer clear of Doo Wop, and thankfully, we did NOT “go to the hop,” as they say.

Wise choice, Roger Dubbs!

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