7 APRIL 30-MAY 6, 2026 westword.com WESTWORD | CONTENTS | LETTERS | NEWS | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | CAFE | MUSIC | Everyone knows that the second Sunday in May — this year it falls on the 10th — is Mother’s Day, but May is also Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month. And while moms always appreciate a nice brunch, they can also celebrate their motherhood with a moms- and mom- friends, no-kids-allowed boogie the following Friday (May 15th) at the Gothic Theatre. Moms Feelin’ Themselves (MFT) is the brainchild of two Denver moms who realized that they — and plenty of other mothers — could benefi t from a joyful, high- energy stress release while connecting with other moms of young children. “It started in 2022,” says psychotherapist Elizabeth Wellington. “I was on maternity leave with my fi rst child, stressed out and searching for support in the midst of the identity crisis of ‘who am I now?’ while I tried to adapt to this new job of being a mother. I called my best friend Sarah Battani Sams — who is also a mother — and said, ‘all I want to do is like, go out dancing with you.’” Dance, yes! But where? “There was no place that felt like it fi t my life now,” says Wellington. “I didn’t want to go to the clubs. I didn’t want to go out partying with young people. I wanted to have a space that felt non- judgmental, inclusive and uplifting — just for us, just for other moms like us — and we couldn’t fi nd that. So Sarah and I decided to create it. We threw our fi rst-ever Mom Dance Party® for Mother’s Day in early May 2023, at Fort Greene. And it sold out immediately.” Self-care and songs The fi rst event was a rousing success, and now the MFT raves have spread to Los Angeles, Boston, New York, San Francisco, Salt Lake City and Chicago. “There’s something different about this because to just go out dancing with your friends, it’s like an easy lift. It’s not as vulnerable as going to therapy. It feels fun, it feels nostalgic, but once you get in there, you really feel the wellness benefi ts of being in community, of moving your body, of listening to music, of having fun and laughing and smiling. We started calling it our mental health intervention for moms, disguised as a dance. Because that is really what it feels like.” Mom-centered, but not solely for moms MFT welcomes moms, stepmoms, aunties and BFFs who are there to support moms, in a community where there’s no judgment, no pressure and no sticky toddlers asking for a snack. Tunes for the Gothic’s rave will be spun by DJ Mama K (from San Francisco’s longest-running 90s night) who will keep the dance fl oor full and the beats on point. The hours are mom- friendly, too: Doors are at 6:00, dancing starts at 7:00 and everything is over by 10:30 — a civilized hour for women who have to be back on mommy duty the next morning. When the doors open, dancing (and non-dancing — some moms just want to soak up the energy) queens will fi nd themselves warmly welcomed by mom greeters and ushered into a safe and inclusive community of women where the vibes are supportive and stress-free, where they can dress to the nines or show up in sweats, stay until last call or slip out after an hour. What they won’t fi nd is an Earth Day- like array of tables touting merchandise or causes: MFT keeps things simple and focused on joy. Tickets to the 21+ Mom Dance Party® are $54.65 (including all taxes and fees) and available at momsfeelingthemselves.com. The Gothic Theatre is located at 3263 South Broadway Avenue, Englewood. LIVE MUSIC ADVERTORIAL MAMAS! AT THE DISCO!
