As a bona fide Ibiza virgin, I was chomping at the bit when I learnt I was being sent out on Saturday night to get to grips with Ibiza clubbing first hand. The setting for my introductory taste of White Isle magic was San Antonio's glamorous super club, Es Paradis, which was opening its doors to party-goers ready to usher in summer 2016 in style.
As one of the most famously beautiful clubs on the island, I wasn't surprised on entering to discover that Es Paradis' interior design was second to none. Boasting a high pyramid celling and giant hanging light bulbs that pepper the entire building, it really is a sight to behold. The club oozes a classy, VIP edge and its sparkling white interior is the perfect backdrop for dozens of seductive dancers. They're all dressed identically in matte black hot pants and Es Paradis white crop tops and scattered throughout the building, each girl adorned in glittery makeup and giant eyelashes that would probably blow you away if they all blinked in unison. The crowd matched the dancers like for like in the style stakes, with some opting for heels and dresses and other rocking snapbacks, but there's no doubt that everyone was dressed to boogie.
A host of top talent was left in charge of the decks - there were sets from Chelina Manuhutu, Paul Taylor and Ridney, but it was Clara Da Costa who had the crowd in the palm of her hands courtesy of classic tunes like Stardust's ‘Music Sounds Better With You' and Danny Tenaglia's remix of Celeda's, ‘Music Is The Answer'. The place was packed, everyone was on their feet raring for the night, and Da Costa kept spirits high throughout her set with an unarguably on point tune selection.
After getting in among it on the dance floor I decided to climb the spiral staircase to the second floor, where the sight of people dancing below was mind-blowing. I had front row seats of dancers wearing flashing underwear and a view of the DJs casting their spells down below, and for a moment I found it hard to believe that all this is on my doorstep. It was good vibes and smiles all round and I can safely say that it was unlike anything I could have ever imagined as an Ibiza virgin. When can I do it all over again?
WORDS | Caoimhe Harkin
