Sharing More Than Just the Dance Floor

What better way to break the ice than show a perfect stranger your underwear? At least, that’s the theory behind the Piso Compartido monthly fiesta at Club Niceto: If Castellano chat-up lines aren’t going your way, then head down to Niceto, in Palermo Hollywood, for some cross-cultural, language free depravity this Friday.

Designed to integrate porteños and foreigners, the monthly fiesta welcomes people from all over the world to partake in party games, and boogie out to a smorgasbord of international crowd pleasers. It’s an attempt to bridge differences and foster friendships, or perhaps more than friendships, if the moves on the dance floor are anything to go by.

Piso Compartido, a flat sharing forum for tourists, heavily promotes their club night in the numerous hostels across Buenos Aires, drawing in a large international crowd; but in accordance with the party’s mantra, a fair number of local party-goers, mostly on the younger side of 20, also frequent the cavernous industrial space.

Organized by Adrian Tolchinsky, 27, and Andrés Pescuno, 27, the monthly fiesta was created four years ago so “foreigners and Argentines could meet each other.” Highlight party games include competing to be the first group of five with matching underwear. All guests are given a sticker at the door with their name and home country, so uttering even one word in Spanish, or otherwise, really is not much of a necessity.

The music is as diverse as the guests, ranging from cumbia, to the globally revered Lady Gaga. Tolchinsky and Pescuno stress that “there is no electronic music here – we want people to be able to talk too.” Though it doesn’t look like talking is on anyone’s mind, as the young, energized crowd, groove away to global favourites until the early hours of the morning. As the sun comes up, and the music is turned down, free croissants and trays of coffee are offered around the club, rounding out a dance heavy, Castellano light, night of universal fun.

Not to be mistaken with the usual warehouse cool, jam packed, club Niceto nights, that leave the audience reeling in a haze of rhythmic beats and cigarette smoke, Piso Compartido Fiesta is a little softer on the soul. But the slightly younger crowd hit the floor with all the same vigour whilst the party games and raffles offer a lighter take on Buenos Aires nightlife; choose your underwear with caution, and leave your Spanish at the door.