We all like to party and unwind after a hard day at work. But often after going out and waking to a massive hangover that takes a full day to recover, partying all-night may not be such a good idea.

Now a movement is pushing a new kind of party, the Daybreaker, which obviously takes place in the morning. The party, which started in Brooklyn, recently launched in Shanghai.

According to the organizers, Daybreaker is a morning movement that is reinventing how people start their day. The party aims to combine the worlds of dance music and festival culture with a modern lifestyle committed to health and wellness to create an entirely new kind of experience. Daybreaker parties now happen in 12 cities around the world, with an engaged community of 200,000 strong and growing fast.

Organizers Radha Agrawal and Matthew Brimer said the idea hatched over a late-night falafel in Williamsburg, as they fantasized about "dancing before the day broke with people we love," according to the website.

"Daybreaker has grown from a small social experiment and an art project with our friends in the basement of a NYC coffee shop to a movement connecting incredible humans locally and globally who choose to live life differently."

The Daybreaker parties integrate yoga and fitness, immersive theater, live performances and dance music - and no alcohol. Since its inception as a social experiment in 2013, the website claims Daybreaker has since become the pioneer in a global revolution of human connection, creative self-expression and personal wellness.

People in Shanghai first got to first experience a Daybreaker party last Wednesday at Central Studios. It kicked off with a yoga session from 7 to 8 am, followed by a dance party from 8 to 10 am for 100 yuan ($14.93). Entrance to both yoga and dance party is 160 yuan.

The Global Times talked with Radha Agrawal, co-founder and CEO of Daybreaker, after the party to ask what they thought of their first event in Shanghai.

GT: Why did you choose Shanghai for the first Daybreaker party in China?

RA: Shanghai is the largest city in the world, and it made sense to launch there with the mix of citizens living there. We also had an international partnership with Clinique to launch Shanghai, and together we produced a sold-out event with over 300 people in attendance!

GT: What did you think of the Shanghai event? What did the participants say?

RA: It was incredible! Our participants absolutely loved it and said it was exactly what Shanghai needed and that they were looking for a community in Shanghai. Daybreaker is first and foremost a community, and we are very focused in creating an experience that allows our community members to self-express and dance freely! We were pleasantly surprised by the high turnout and believe Shanghai is ready for Daybreaker to have a permanent presence here.

GT: Dancing in the morning is still a new concept in China. How do you promote that here?

RA: We were invited into over a dozen amazing WeChat communities from mindfulness and fitness communities, women's groups and more. We met so many incredible people while we were in Shanghai who were so open to sharing their networks and spreading the good word. It's really an incredible place.

GT: How is dancing in the morning different from dancing in the evening?

RA: In the morning, your cup is full! Everyone came from the same place: their bed! So the energy is so high! At night, people may have different energies due to interactions they had during their day - maybe their boss yelled at them, they got into a fight with their partner or had a stressful day. In the morning, everyone is optimistic and happy and the sun is out! It's completely different and people are ready to dance!

GT: Any future plans for another party in Shanghai?

RA: Yes! We are planning on doing monthly events in Shanghai and expanding around Asia. Stay tuned! 

Global Times

Daybreaker parties around the world

Photos: Courtesy of Daybreaker