Vallejo 'Baby Rave' celebrates Teeny Tiny Graduates

May 30-Children ages 8 and younger filled the Norman C. King Community Center on Saturday for a graduation celebration unlike any traditional commencement ceremony - one complete with glow sticks, youth DJs, and a dance floor lit by black lights.

Stepping inside the South Vallejo Arts and Cultural Complex - home to the Norman C. King Community Center - felt more like entering a lively dance party than a graduation event.

Behind the DJ booth stood 7-year-old Ace Dewan, spinning upbeat tracks while children sporting retro plastic aviator sunglasses danced beneath neon lights. Balloons, streamers, and glowing decorations shimmered under black lights as a handful of energetic youngsters celebrated the Norman C. King Center's "Teeny Tiny Graduation Turn Up."

The event featured youth DJ performances, face painting, games, a blacklight glow party, and special treats, including custom chocolate bars created by Liled's Candy Kitchen to commemorate the occasion.

"This is for all the little graduates, whether they're graduating from daycare into TK or moving from kindergarten to first grade - anything," said Center Director Izzy Drumgoole. "We're celebrating their growth, and so it's a teeny tiny graduation turn up."

Organizers partnered with several local organizations to expand the event's offerings, including Tiny Tykes Indoor Playground, which provided a play area for the youngest attendees, and Indie Guerilla Studio, a Vallejo-based music education space that offers DJ lessons for both children and adults.

For Indie Guerilla Studio owner and DJ instructor Wayne "Autonomous" Ricardo, helping young people discover music has become one of the most rewarding parts of his career.

Ricardo said he first became interested in DJing at age 15, but it wasn't until the COVID-19 pandemic that he pushed in an alternate direction - one that encouraged teaching.

"It's been incredibly rewarding," Ricardo said. "From the community side and just in general, to see young kids develop their skills - it's incredible."

His first teaching experiences came through lessons hosted at Guitar Center in Vallejo. While he still spends time teaching there, Ricardo said opening his own studio significantly expanded his ability to work with aspiring artists.

"We basically try to educate kids - really anyone who's interested - on how to become more independent artists and find their own (niche)," he said.

One of those students is none other than "DJ Ace Nova," the 7-year-old behind the event's turntable.

"He's amazing," Ricardo said. "Sometimes it's a little harder, especially with younger kids, to get them to understand some of the nuances of DJing. But Ace is very instructive. He dives right in."

According to Ricardo, Ace's favorite music is inspired by the popular video game Geometry Dash, known for its fast-paced electronic soundtrack.

"He's probably not the happiest camper right now because we told him he can't play that right now - to play music more for other kids - but we got to talk about compromise," Richards joked.

The little DJ's parents, Elena and Darpan Dewan, both beamed with pride as he wrapped up his hour-long set. According to the couple, he had been taking lessons for a little over three months.

"We thought it was an awesome opportunity for him to come and present his music in front of others," said his father, Darpan. "It helps him gain confidence and sets him up for a successful future."

"He also likes to just have fun because he's still a kid," his mother, Elena, added. "He really enjoys the environment."

Like many of the children in attendance, Ace was celebrating a milestone of his own - his promotion from second to third grade.

The Teeny Tiny Graduation Turn Up is part of a broader series of youth-centered events hosted by the Norman C. King Center. Since the beginning of the year, organizers have held variations of the "Teeny Tiny Turn Up" monthly, each designed to encourage community engagement and provide family-friendly entertainment.

Drumgoole said organizers hope to continue expanding the events through new partnerships and increased community participation. "Every month, we're leveling up," she said.

For information about future Teeny Tiny Turn Up events and other community programming, visit the Greater Vallejo Recreation District's (GVRD) events page.

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