Local West Orange entertainer brings daytime parties to Rock 'N Rev

A group of attendees quickly got up from their seats and headed over to the dance floor as Marcia Griffths’ “Electric Boogie” began playing during the weekly decades dance party at Rock ’N Rev. 

A line dance formed quickly — step right, step right, step right, step right, step left, step left, step left, step left, step back, step back, step back, step back, step forward, step forward, step back, step back, step forward, turn, repeat. 

With colorful red and blue LED lights shining bright, upbeat tunes, good food, and an attentive and interactive host, Rock ’N Rev was transformed into the daytime party for those who enjoy oldies but goodies from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. 

Greg Thompson, creator and host of the event, is a longtime entertainer who wanted to bring dance, laughter and good music to West Orange. 

Today, he’s achieving just that. 

‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough’ 

Thompson first had the idea to host a decades dance party about 30 years ago. 

As an entertainer, he often brainstormed new ideas on how to engage audiences to have a good time, forget about their worries, and enjoy music and entertainment. 

“I thought it’d be fun if I did a Sunday afternoon dance party for the old people and play big band music,” he said. “Nobody was doing that. Nobody had a place for the older crowd to go and have fun.”

That idea, however, was short-lived as the revenue from it was low. 

While it didn’t work out 30 years ago, Thompson kept the idea in his mind all these years. 

When he was a teen, Thompson often danced clog, admitting he loved being on a stage. Growing up in a family of entertainers, the stage is exactly where he wanted to be. 

“At our family reunions, there was somebody playing the piano, somebody always singing, somebody playing the guitar,” he said. “Our grandfather — whom I never met — was apparently one of those musicians who could just pick up anything and start playing it.” 

Thompson grew up to be a jack-of-all-trades in the entertainment industry: emceeing beauty pageants, producing celebrity-impersonator shows, performing in a country comedy band, serving as a DJ for a radio station, entertaining guests on cruise ships and emceeing at Medieval Times.

He’s a full-time entertainer, and that’s just how he likes it. 

Today, at 63 years old, Thompson is bringing back his 30-year-old idea of hosting decades dance parties for maturing adults. 

With a deeper understanding of what maturing adults’ routines are like, what music they like and what type of entrainment suits them best, the odds were in his favor. 

“There’s a whole crowd of people who want to go out and have fun, but they don’t want to go to the club and listen to club music banging in their ears,” he said. “Our age group is not being addressed. If you want to go out and dance at a club, it’s not getting started until 9 o’clock.”

Shortly after making a Facebook post about the party, Thompson received an overwhelming amount of responses from residents throughout Central Florida interested in his idea. 

With the encouragement from friends, family and online strangers, Thompson began hosting a ’60s, ’70s and ’80s decades dance party from 2 to 5 p.m. every Sunday at Rock ’N Rev in Ocoee. 

“At 9 o’clock, our crowd is in bed,” he said. “We want to be in bed having taken our medication by 9 o’clock.”

What once didn’t work out now is taking the main stage, proving that no mountain is high enough to stop him from accomplishing his goals. 

His biggest fear, he said, was aging out of the entertainment business, but this new event has brought him a new confidence and understanding that allows him to continue being an entertainer for years to come. 

‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’

For many attendees, the dance party is the perfect way to spend their Sunday afternoons. 

“This is right up my alley because I love music,” said Janet Lamb, one of the attendees at the dance party. “It’s a fun way to connect and de-stress, and everybody is fun.” 

Lamb is from Apopka and didn’t mind making the drive to Ocoee to have an enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

“Life can be very stressful, and we need to get out and have fun,” she said. “Greg does an excellent job. I don’t always do things like this on a Sunday, but I think I might be changing that going forward.” 

While Lamb often comes across karaoke nights, she said she has not seen anything like Thompson’s decades dance party, making it special and exciting. 

To her, it’s an opportunity to connect with people, disconnect from technology and build genuine connections that grow the heart and soul. 

Most important, the dance party is at an appropriate time to have fun while still being able to get in bed early and head to work the next day feeling fully rested and refreshed. 

Like Lamb, local Ocoee residents Stephanie and David Miller said the decades dance party is a fun way to end the week, and they are certain they will be back to do more dancing, singing and trivia through Thompson’s weekly events. 

With attendees’ full support, Thompson is confident the event will make a difference in people’s lives — through dance, music and lighthearted fun. 

Photo by Leticia Silva

‘I Will Survive’ 

The support goes far beyond attendees. 

Heather Wells, Thompson’s friend of more than 30 years, said his decades dance party idea was a no-brainer. 

He’s a natural at what he does, she said, and knew the idea would flourish into a reality. 

“The whole concept, I was like, ‘You got to do it,’” she said. “On top of the music, the timing was great. A lot of us work Monday through Friday; a lot of us don’t want to stay out late. We have our Sunday, we get to go out, have some drinks, good lunch, entertainment, dance and we’re home. Personally, I love it.” 

So far, Thompson has hosted the dance party for three consecutive Sundays, each time seeing it grow. 

He already is seeing returning attendees, who have seen his abilities as a host and were satisfied. 

Thompson doesn’t simply sit behind a booth and play music. He doesn’t believe that’s proper. Instead, he chooses to be interactive, speaking to the crowd, asking questions, asking for song requests and going as far as going on the dance floor to teach his audience how to line dance. 

He takes pride in his work and never once has thought of pursuing a different career path. 

While the event’s popularity continues to grow, however, Thompson is met with a challenge. 

As football season approaches, Rock ’N Rev soon will begin hosting Cleveland Browns watch parties at the same time the dance parties take place. 

That means Thompson has until Sunday, Sept. 6, to find a new venue to continue the beloved decades dance parties. 

With supporters extending from places such as Winter Garden, Ocoee, Apopka, Longwood, Mount Dora and New Smyrna, he now knows wherever he goes, there will be a need for decades dance parties. He knows he will survive and so do his supporters. 

“It’ll definitely explode,” David Miller said of the event. 

For now, the party continues on, with attendees’ favorite dancing music from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s on blast, good vibes and an entertainer who will go above and beyond for his audience. 

In the future, Thompson hopes to expand the parties to different areas of Central Florida, so maturing adults can have a new form of entertainment no matter where they are. 

“This has really given me new inspiration that I’ll probably do this for another 15 years easily,” he said.