The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
When Elizabeth Wellington and Sarah Battani Sams became best friends over a decade ago, they bonded like many young women do: dancing together at clubs and concerts. But when the duo became mothers, they found it difficult to make time for girls nights out between nap schedules and feeding routines. The pair realized that Denver was in desperate need of a different kind of mom group—one that allowed mothers the freedom to just have fun.
In 2021, Wellington (a psychoanalyst) and Battani Sams (a business brand strategist) launched Moms Feelin’ Themselves (MFT), an organization that throws dance parties and hosts social clubs for local mothers. The idea seems to be catching on: MFT has sold out every single dance party it’s hosted, and the upcoming Mother’s Day rager at the Bluebird Theater on May 22 is on track to follow suit. Ahead of the group’s biggest event yet, we caught up with Wellington and Battani Sams to learn more about what it means for moms to feel themselves.
Editor’s note: The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
5280: Tell us more about what led you to launch Moms Feelin’ Themselves.
Wellington: I had my first baby in 2021. As I was transitioning to motherhood, I realized it was a lot harder than I expected. I don’t know what I was expecting, but it was really tough. I’m a therapist, and I work predominantly with new moms. I actually specialize in perinatal and maternal mental health. So not only was I going through this personal experience of becoming a new version of me, but I was also seeing all my clients go through it too.
So I called Sarah one day, and I told her, “We have got to do something about this.” All I wanted to do was get together with my friends and have fun in the old way that we used to. But in our new lives, it just didn’t work. I didn’t want to go to bed late. So we decided to find a way for moms to get together, to have a healthy release through dancing, and to find community, but in a way that fits our lives now.
Why dance parties instead of a regular group setting?
Wellington: As a psychotherapist, I’ve worked with adolescents, couples, families, and I’ve been specializing in moms for about five years. What I’ve noticed is that moms are the hardest population to get into therapy and stay in therapy. We don’t have enough time. We feel guilty about spending the time away from our families. We don’t want to spend the money on ourselves. And, frankly, I think we feel really ashamed that we think we need therapy. So we asked ourselves, “What is a way that feels easy and fun and accessible that moms will sign up for?”
With dance parties, the barrier to entry is low. Just come and have fun with your friends. And research has shown that dance decreases feelings of depression and anxiety. Dance boosts self-esteem and feelings of body positivity. And when dancing happens with others, there is a shared feeling of bonding that actually syncs our brains together.
Battani Sams: Even just being in a space with other moms, but not having to talk about momming, is so important. Our moms have said so many times that when they look around and they realize everyone in there is a mom, it’s just an incredibly safe place to be.
Read more: How Local Organizations Are Helping Combat Postpartum Depression
How have you managed to create a business out of dance parties?
Battani Sams: We spent the first couple years just testing what moms wanted. It was the dances where we saw the biggest demand. We sold out our very first dance, and we’ve sold out every dance since. The last dance sold out in less than seven hours. For the Mother’s Day party we partnered with AEG for the first time so we’ll never have a wait list again. We’re very close to selling out the Bluebird.
What’s the response been like?
Battani Sams: I’m thinking of one mom in particular who said, “I never thought I could feel this way within motherhood, just so joyful with other mothers.” There’s a big sense of camaraderie, understanding of mental health, and just a general feeling of I didn’t know how much I needed to go out and listen to early 2000s hip-hop with other moms. Someone else said getting tickets to Moms Feelin’ Themselves is like getting tickets to Taylor Swift. It’s so competitive because we provide that place for moms to let it all out.
What would someone expect from attending one of the dance parties?
Wellington: One of our rules is that when you enter into a Moms Feelin’ Themselves space, we are all friends. There’s no “in” group and no “out” group. There’s no boundary between friend groups. We’re all together. So we’ve had many moms who come alone and immediately start striking up conversation with other women and leave with five different moms’ phone numbers. We’ll have a whole welcoming squad at the Mother’s Day rager who will be on the ground making sure that everyone feels supported and welcomed. If you’re alone, somebody’s gonna come grab you.
What’s next for Moms Feelin’ Themselves?
Battani Sams: On the last Friday of the first week of school we’re hosting a back-to-school banger, but the theme is yacht rock. That’ll be August 22 at the Bluebird, and then we’ll have another event probably later in the fall at the Bluebird as well. We also hope to expand to Boston in probably September or October this year.
Wellington: We really want to make this a nationwide movement to give moms across the country this outlet to manage their big feelings and connect with each other. Our goal in 2026 is to expand in cities and markets across the country.
Moms Feelin’ Themselves Mother’s Day dance party will be held at the Bluebird on May 22 from 7 p.m.–10 p.m. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online.
