On a usual Wednesday night the front of dance club Polly Esther?s resembles an abandoned saloon in a forgotten ghost town.

However, last Wednesday night, the 70?s and 80?s themed club was flooded with soaps and suds alike, waiting for young partygoers to dance with. In an effort to do something different for the Sacramento the club scene, Polly Esther?s has created a monster out of two hundred gallons of water and soap.

It?s called a “Foam Party,” a phenomenon that started in Europe before making its way to the states at the will of thousands of native party animals. Polly Esther?s first tried the foam on for size in Scottsdale Arizona, where it turned out to be a huge success.

“This area was an untapped market,” said Ron Reed, general manager of the Sacramento Polly Esther?s located at 1696 Arden Way. “After the success in Scottsdale we just decided to run with it.”

Polly Esther?s unveiled their first Foam Party on Oct. 1 of last year. When the doors opened the club saw a line of people that went all the way into the street.

Inside, more than half of the main dance floor is walled off to contain the foam provided by one ferocious foam-spewing machine. At 9 p.m. the foam area looks like a small playpen that the average 20-somethings might find too childish to frolic in.

By 10 p.m., small groups of people form semi-enthusiastic dance circles, and slowly sip on their drinks. When 11 p.m. rolls around, the foam has begun to creep into the bar areas and restrooms.

By the time the clock hits Midnight, the foam becomes unavoidable (not like anyone cares). The dance floor is swaying as one, flailing body parts sticking out of the mass of foam that climbs up to six feet high in some areas. An arm is over here, a leg over there; butts are everywhere.

Reed describes this as being a “lighter atmosphere,” and a place where “everybody has fun, and rarely do people go away displeased.”

“It?s the best time you?ll ever have, but more girls need to come,” said Robert Nelson, a student at Sacramento State. As the weather gets warmer the turnout is expected to increase, which may mean that Nelson could get his wish.

The next foam party scheduled at Polly Esther?s is May 8, with another one May 26, just in time for Memorial Day.

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