What better way to ring in the new year than Roger Sanchez on the decks with a magnificent fireworks display in the background. Partygoers thronged Nasimi beach at Sandance to welcome 2013 in bedazzled sandals and shimmering dresses.
Rita Ora opened the party with Roc the Life in a short rose gold dress, her blonde curls flying free. We loved the very Arab headpiece. And when she moved onto Hot Right Now, the party was just picking up pace and indeed was getting very hot.
She sang her way through Shine Ya Light before picking up the drum sticks for an energetic performance of Uneasy.
“We’re tearing up the town, Cause that’s just how we do,” she belted out in How We Do. By then she had whipped up the crowd into a frenzy and it was the perfect setting for her final number, RIP, the ideal song for everyone to bid adieu to any bad break-ups and failures of 2012.
Rob Kardashian, Ora’s ex who went on a Twitter rant following their break-up, will surely be regretting his words – she has moved on to greater things.
DJ Smokinggroove picked up where Ora left but only after audience member Javed proposed to Donya with an announcement over the speakers. Sadly it wasn’t broadcast on the big screens -- so we wonder if she said yes.
Ellie Goulding joined the party rather uneventfully - there was no announcement of the headline act and it took some time for people to realize she was on stage. In a metallic grey sweater and black pants, she took the stage to Don’t Say a Word. Figure 8 and Hanging On, rather mellow tracks for a New Year’s party, but ideal for swaying on the cold sand.
If Donya did say yes, Ellie Goulding’s Your Song would have made the perfect first dance for an engaged couple.
Goulding’s accent was hard to understand but we understood that she went skydiving yesterday, proof that ‘Anything Can Happen’, as she sang. This new year is about conquering fears and trying out new things Goulding style.
There were screams from the crowd for her hit track Lights and she obliged, wearing on a pair of flashing shutter shades thrown by someone in the audience.
She left the crowd Starry Eyed with her closing song with thirty minutes left to the new year.
DJ Zane Lowe was the final act for 2012 spinning popular tracks from years past – think LMFAO’s Party Rock Anthem with Avicci’s Levels and Gotye’s Somebody That I Used To Know added to the mix.
And move over Downtown: the fireworks lighting up the shoreline were breathtakingly beautiful. Hugs and kisses all around – Sandance hadn’t ended.
In the early minutes of 2013, Roger Sanchez hit the decks for a set that featured chilled reggae beats interspersed with thumping house music.
By the time Paul Van Dyke took to stage in the wee hours of the morning bathroom breaks were forgotten, shoes had gone missing and friends were lost. Who cares – the music was brilliant, the atmosphere electrifying and we had celebrated the New Year in style.
For those nursing killer headaches and aching calf muscles today, we recommend rest and fluids.
Goulding tweeted this morning, “Happy New Year... Yesterday was so special thank you Sandance” while Ora went Dubai style “Happy new year Habibi we love youuuuuuu ritabots!!!!!”
