A teenage girl who doubles as one of Houston's hottest up-and-coming deejays says she wanted a place where young fans could go to dance and listen to music. Some parents are skeptical but, as we learned, this young DJ is winning them over.
At just 13 years old, Ellisa Freeman, also known as "DJ Elle," is electrifying crowds of adults -- and now, her peers.
"I only play for 21 and up," DJ Elle said. "I thought it'd give my younger fans a chance to hear me!"
The queen of clubs now has one to call her own: Elle's House. The club takes over a section of the indoor kids' party venue "Pump it Up" on Sawdust Road in The Woodlands on Friday and Saturday nights. Admission is $15, and it's exclusively for children ages nine to 15.
"I wasn't sure at first, either," parent Candace Boswell said. "And now that I've been here, I know that I will definitely bring my kids back here."
A lot of moms we talked to admit that they were nervous about dropping off their young daughters at a night club for kids. Boswell's daughter is just nine years old. But once they were inside, their tunes changed.
"I think it's safer... than hanging out at somebody's house," parent Katie Guthrie said. "I don't know if there are parents there or not; at least here I know it's supervised, and there are police officers outside."
There is security at the door. Parents also must sign their children in and out and leave emergency contact information.
"All the staff is going to wear the neon shirts so we can all glow and the kids can see who we are, and if there's anything they need they can come to us," DJ Elle's father, Chris Freeman, said.
There's pizza, soda and candy, but no alcohol. There's also a strict dress code and age-appropriate music.
"Anything that wouldn't fly at my house is not going to fly here," Freeman said.
There are games, glow sticks and a dance floor, but there is no bad language, kissing or "twerking."
"Have you seen any making out going on, on the dance floor?" we asked another 13-year-old.
"No, it's been really clean. Only PG," he replied.
For kids, it's good clean fun. For DJ Elle, it's a glimpse of the future.
"Another one of my dreams is to open up my own club, and this is a baby step to where I want to be," she said.
Elle's House in The Woodlands is open Fridays from 7pm to midnight and Saturdays from 8pm to midnight. She's also opening a second location in Katy.
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