Dancers love using music to express themselves. Music can help create routines for competition or simply practice purposes.
No matter where it takes place – in your car, at a club or solo at home – dancing releases dopamine, oxytocin, serotonin and endorphins that give us all that extra boost of energy we need for daily survival.
Genres
There are literally hundreds of genres that fall under the umbrella of dance music. Many sub-genres can be distinguished based on specific features like use of samples, emotional triggers and melodic differences that distinguish each subgenre from its peers. Dance music can typically be found in clubs, bars and radio stations and has a massive fan base with influential DJs such as Calvin Harris, Martin Garrix and Marshmello selling out stadiums!
Drum & bass, house, gqom and techno are among the more exuberant genres of dance music, typically with quick beats per minute that feature both synthesized instruments as well as natural ones, alongside vocals. Furthermore, these genres often boast catchy vocal hooks with syncopated beats – an indication that they are extremely exciting forms of music to listen to!
Dubstep is a style designed for hardcore bass lovers. This genre’s hallmark is an intense, fast-paced sound that lends itself perfectly to club settings, earning Dubstep an enthusiastic following who are drawn to its signature “wub wub sounds.”
Grime is another genre with a dedicated following, mixing elements of DNB, Garage and Hip Hop with string-driven 4x4s to craft its unique take on electronic music. Grime’s hyperactive nature means you can switch between high energy beats and string driven 4x4s within an instantaneous cycle; one of only few EDM genres that has seen their rap scene develop into an identifiable force in mainstream society.
Hard dance is a genre that has found success across Europe and is making waves in the US. Combining reggae, gabber, and hardcore influences to form its unique sound – perfect for getting audiences up on their feet – hard dance can even appeal to those who normally don’t enjoy electronic dance music (EDM).
Moombahton is a vibrant genre that blends house music with reggaeton to form its signature sound. Over recent years, this genre has quickly gained momentum as part of dance music culture and even DJs who prefer slower forms like downtempo can appreciate Moombahton.
Moods
Dance tracks come with various moods that range from vibrant, shimmering and feel good to deep, intense and menacing – helping people decide whether or not they want to dance to it. Novelty is key in dance music: our brain needs something new on every track to know where it’s heading next, so having different loops helps it do so more easily than constantly listening to one song over and over. Thus all tracks don’t make equal dancing experiences!
Listening
Uptempo music can help to increase focus and productivity when working on repetitive tasks such as data entry or answering emails, but may distract you from your task at hand if you require making more cognitive decisions or solving complex issues.
Spotify and Apple Music both offer streaming platforms offering an extensive selection of dance tracks, offering both free and paid subscriptions that enable offline listening with customizable playlists based on individual taste. For maximum enjoyment and dance-floor fun, the best dance tracks combine repetition with novelty for maximum entertainment value.