NEW ORLEANS DANCE PARTIES AND EVENTS
AN INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL MORSE OF FUNKIN RIGHT PRODUCTIONS AND THE CINE-DANCE EVENTS
Daniel Morse of Funkin Right Productions and some images from previous Cine-Dance events
Complete Projection: An interview with Daniel Morse of Funk Right Productions, and the monthly Cine-Dance event
By Paul Oswell
Up All Night: Tell us about Funkin Right Productions—what’s the origin story?
Daniel Morse: Funkin Right started back in 2013. The first event I produced was a New Year’s Eve show at the Joy Theater with The New Mastersounds. At the time, my main goal was to create an event that my kids could attend, since most shows were 18+. I got a crash course in production when I was strong-armed out by Winter Circle but still managed to co-produce the event. After a few small parties, I was given the opportunity to help book for a Carnival krewe, which later evolved into producing the entire event. Since then, I’ve been entrenched in that world for the past ten years. Along the way, I’ve built a solid network of artists, vendors, and a core team that helps bring these visions to life. Music is the heartbeat, but we always strive to make it a visual feast too—projection lighting is our signature.
Are you from New Orleans? How has the scene changed since you were growing up?
I was born in Texas and raised throughout the South, but I’ve called New Orleans home for over 26 years. The State Palace raves and nights at Ampersand are burned into my memory. The scene has changed a lot—smaller venues have popped up all over to fill the gaps, but they tend to skew younger. That’s part of why Cine-Dance was born: I wanted to create something that felt open, intentional, and mature while still rooted in that energy.
Tell us about the concept of Cine-Dance—where did the inspiration come from?
The idea came while watching a movie at The Broad Theater a few years ago. I turned to my wife and said, “Wouldn’t it be cool to turn this place into a rave?” Fast forward six years—I had the post-Carnival blues. My wife said, “Why don’t you just throw a party? It always makes you feel better.” I remembered that old theater concept, reached out to my friend Brian at The Broad, and he said, “Let’s give it a whirl.” Less than two weeks later, we launched the first Cine-Dance: Of Earth.
How did it come together? Was it hard to find the right DJs and visual artists?
Thankfully, because of past productions, I already had a strong sense of which DJs I gelled with. I also have a very good friend who’s deep in the DJ scene, and between that and my own connections, we were able to pull together a strong group of DJs for our first event. My goal is always to bring in a diverse mix of talent—DJs who pull different crowds from across the city. I want Cine-Dance to feel inclusive, never like it’s just for one kind of person but more so for the community. I’ve also got a core group of VJs I trust and have dubbed Team X, and we work extremely well together.
What about venues? How do you choose them?
Venues are honestly what excite me the most—especially unconventional ones. I gravitate toward spaces not traditionally used for music. The Broad Theater is a great example, but I’ve also done events at the former Drifter Hotel and even bought out Maison St. Charles for a two-day party. Most of the time, the venue finds me. It’s often a partnership with the owners, and their enthusiasm helps bring it to life.
Tell us about the Cine-Dance event coming up this weekend.
This will be our third monthly installment of Cine-Dance, and like anything in New Orleans, we’re hoping it’s not the last. The theme this time is Femme Fatale. We’ve booked an all-female DJ lineup and are thrilled to have visual artist Monica Kelly joining us. We’ll be activating three of the four theaters at The Broad, along with the lobby. Every DJ plays a two-hour set, and the event runs from 11pm to 3am. The magic of Cine-Dance is that you can roam freely between spaces until you find your perfect vibe—some people dance in the aisles, others hang by the DJ, and some just chill in their seats with concessions. It’s like being dropped off at the movies as a kid and letting the space become your playground.
Who in the local scene do you always make an effort to catch live?
Anything Tristan Dufrene does has my full attention. I’m also a big fan of Secret Handshake. When it comes to live music, I’m always scouting young, fresh talent that’s doing something different. A good example is Very Cherry—I’ve booked them three times already and have a few more gigs lined up with them in the near future.
What’s coming up this summer?
We’re keeping Cine-Dance on the calendar for the next-to-last Saturday of each month. Beyond that, I’ve got a show at The Rabbit Hole on July 12th and another big one on Halloween night (10/31) at Southport Music Hall. There’s also a new concept in the works—more focused on immersive sound—that I hope to debut by August. I’m also working with a few of my VJs to help educate students who want to explore the art of projection. Sharing that knowledge and helping others develop their creative voice is a big part of what drives me.
Thanks for talking to us, Daniel! Where can people find your events and follow Funkin Right Productions?
You can find us online at www.funkinright.com or on Instagram at @funkinright.productions. That said, I still believe in word of mouth and write-ups like this—things that attract like-minded people and help us preserve the vibe we’ve worked hard to build.
Click here for more information and ticketing to Cine-Dance: Femme Fatale at the Broad Theater this Saturday, May 24th.