All Aboard for Space Prom: Nordista Freeze launches his '80s sci-fi dance party in Savannah

Dog Days Presents are partnering up with Nashville’s Nordista Freeze to bring his wildly popular Space Prom to Savannah for the very first time.

Freeze, an exuberant and charismatic showman, created Space Prom in 2018 as a fun way to reclaim prom for everyone.

“I feel like most people had a very subpar experience,” Freeze said of his high school prom and others. “I call it a reclaiming of prom because I feel like prom has such high anticipation when you’re a teenager and in high school and you feel like this is supposed to be this moment that you remember for the rest of your life, and for most people, myself included, it’s not that at all—it makes you feel worse. So, I’m trying to give people the opportunity to reclaim that moment and have it with people they actually care about.

“We’re romanticizing and going back to a past era of music but bringing it with this alien-outer space-futuristic vibe, as well. It’s a celebration of the past, present, and future, in a cool way.”

'All Aboard' inaugural Space Prom in Savannah

Freeze has developed a reputation for putting on big, high-energy shows, but Space Prom has become one of his most popular events.

“In Nashville, it’s always been really competitive,” said Freeze. “I’m born and raised here. It’s really hard to get people to come out to your show. Back then I was looking for ways to get people out, and I was doing all kinds of different events like Freeze Fest and a Halloween party. I didn’t really see Space Prom being as explosive as it was.”

Freeze envisioned Space Prom as a disco '80s-retro sci-fi party where people could dress up and have an idealized prom experience—in space. The inaugural Space Prom was held in an old school ballroom in the back of a Chinese restaurant.

“We had a little over 530 tickets sold, and for me, in 2018, that was a complete anomaly for me,” recalled Freeze. “I’d never played for that many people in my life. We knew we had a good thing going.”

Since then, Freeze has held six annual Space Proms in Nashville, including sold-out shows at Cannery Ballroom and Brooklyn Bowl. Now Freeze has teamed up with his friend, promoter Kyle Brown of Dog Days Presents, to road test Space Prom in Savannah.

Freeze and Dog Days Presents have assembled a huge line-up of talented guest singers to perform with Space Prom’s stellar 9-piece band. The guests including members of Flipturn, Trash Panda, Daddy’s Beemer, Basically Nancy, Crumbsnatchers, The Simplicity, Bero Bero, and Neckromance, as well as singers Anna Kellam, Suzanna Kennedy, Jalen Reyes, Katie McCauliffe, Ana Carmen, Mary Margaret Cozart, Ryan Flannery, Lakin Crawford, Thomas Mole, and Jacob Evans.

This year’s Space Prom theme is “All Aboard.”

“The music all carries a unique theme about space travel, and transportation and travel in general, but through the lens of science fiction,” explained Freeze. “We play hits and popular songs of that era, but they’re not ones you’d hear if you just went to '80s Night somewhere. We do a lot of research, we have a music director, we have a theme and design.”

It wouldn’t be a prom if attendees didn’t get all dressed up. But what is the dress code for a Space Prom? Sequin dresses and tuxedos?

“The event has three different styles at play because you’ve got prom which brings its own style and aesthetic,” said Freeze. “Then you’ve got outer space which is its own thing. And then you’ve got '80s. You’ll see people take one of those directions, or two, or sometimes all three. You’ll see aliens and astronauts, and people who straight up look like they’re going to prom. You go wherever you choose on the Venn diagram.

“Ultimately, it’s about wearing whatever you want to wear and having an inclusive and cool time together.”

Freeze has had a lot of success in Savannah previously and believes it is the best place to try his Space Prom outside of Nashville. If all goes well, Space Prom could become a beloved annual event here, too.

“I want people to know that we’ve put in months and months of effort,” said Freeze. “I know people might not be as aware of the tradition, but I get so many people telling me this is their holiday, this is their favorite night of the year, and that’s what inspires us to keep doing it.”

If You Go >>

What: Space Prom: All Aboard

When: 8 p.m., Jan. 18

Where: Victory North, 2603 Whitaker St.

Cost: $21-26

Info: victorynorthsavannah.com

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Nordista Freeze launches '80s sci-fi dance party in Savannah