No matter your taste in music, dance music has become an integral part of society and culture. From getting people moving to simply getting our hearts racing and feet tapping – dance music keeps our blood pumping with energy!
What exactly is dance music? In this article, we’ll look into its history and subgenres.
Origins
Dance music has long been an integral part of many people’s lives, shaping fashion, art and social movements alike. Although we understand what dance music is today, its origins may have become forgotten over time. From disco to EDM we take a look back at its development and its effect on us.
Disco music became one of America’s most beloved genres during the early 1970s. Hit songs by Chubby Checker like ‘The Twist’ caused an unparalleled dance craze and led to DJs (disc jockeys) performing pre-recorded music at nightclubs. By mid 1980s DJ Frankie Knuckles introduced House music in Chicago – named for a club called Warehouse where Knuckles would mix older disco records with off-beat hi hats using inexpensive electronic equipment like drum machines and synthesizers.
House and techno music was experiencing unprecedented global expansion during the late ’90s. Artists such as Tiesto, Paul van Dyk and Armin Van Buuren propelled its popularity forward through multi-million dollar tours as well as increased live show attendance.
In the noughties, Drum & Bass (D’n’B) became one of the mainstays of popular culture and clubs worldwide with artists like Pendulum, Goldie’s Metalheadz, Wilkinson and Chase & Status becoming major figures within it. RAM Records provided an outlet for D’n’B producers and artists.
In 2010, Bassline music experienced a revival, drawing new generations of listeners through artists such as TS7, Platnum and DJ Q who enjoyed chart hits with this genre. Unfortunately, Bassline has yet to gain equal recognition as other black genres like Grime or Afroswing – Nia Archives noted this whitewashing phenomenon and called for Bassline to be recognized at major events such as MOBO awards and festivals.
Subgenres
Popularity of dance music has given birth to numerous subgenres that specialize in particular styles or themes, creating an ever-evolving list with its own distinct sound; some styles aimed at club crowds while others feature more ambient textures.
EDM (Electronic Dance Music) has quickly become one of the most widely popular genres of dance music. Influenced heavily by electronic instruments and high-energy beats, EDM has gained widespread mainstream appeal thanks to artists like Calvin Harris and The Chainsmokers who have integrated elements of it into their pop hits.
There are various other genres of dance music besides electronic. More traditional forms such as soul, funk and disco often incorporate complex rhythmic grooves accompanied by drum-and-bass style beats for dancing.
Big room house is an exciting new genre to the dance music repertoire, gaining ground since 2010 through acts like Swedish House Mafia and Martin Garrix. Its explosive sounds and upbeat melodies make it ideal for main stage dancing at festivals or large events.
Techno is an upbeat genre of dance music with roots in house music, while being heavily influenced by industrial influences. Its four-to-the-floor beats and rough, less polished sound distinguish it from other dance genres.
Drum and bass music is a highly energetic form of dance music, distinguished by complex hi-hat patterns, 808 kick drums and synthesizers. Typically combined with hip-hop, reggae or dubstep genres for club edit formats.
Trance music is another upbeat genre of dance music that features sweeping, euphoric melodies and psychedelic imagery, with its tempo falling between 120-135 BPM.
Gangsta Rap music is a form of dance music featuring trap-influenced Hip-Hop beats and lyrics about urban life, often with violent themes. Sometimes known as UK Drill, its style resembles that of American G-RAP.
Funk music, an amalgamation of Jazz, Rhythm & Blues and Soul music genres, is an approachable form of dance music with complex grooves that draws upon jazz, R&B and Soul influences. Funk music features melody-driven passages while emphasizing rhythmic grooves from bass lines and drum sections as opposed to melodic progressions.
Songs
Since the dawn of time, songs have evolved to make dance music easier to move to. Factors like song tempo, speechiness and timbre all affect whether dancing to music is easy or difficult; emotional content plays a large part too: A captivating chorus or emotional passage will keep listeners engaged while repetitive loops may lose them interest and lead to stopping altogether.
Most dance songs tend to follow a basic structure: typically an intro that’s multiple of 16 bars long with drum beats and other sounds or instruments before building to the chorus (usually an infectious hook or melody) repeated multiple times throughout. Following that comes either a breakdown/bridge (usually short sections that vary from the rest) and then finally, an outro (which consists of slowly fading elements from the song), making DJing easier.
At their core, all dance tracks contain similar elements; however, each genre places particular emphasis on certain parts of a song to achieve its signature sound. For example, Drum n’ Bass tracks typically emphasize initial drops while House music tends to feature lots of breakdowns. When writing dance tracks it is essential that they be designed specifically with dancing in mind; therefore they need novelty, repetition and rhythm in mind.
Discovering new dance music is made easy using streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music, with their extensive music libraries across various genres and custom playlists that suit any taste imaginable – you may even come across remixes of your favourite tracks! These services make discovering and enjoying dance songs while reliving old favorites hassle-free!
Streaming
Spotify and Apple Music streaming services offer dance music fans access to an expansive library of songs to choose from. In addition, these services feature DJ tools designed specifically to assist DJs keep abreast of new releases while creating personalized playlists. Furthermore, these services provide valuable data regarding song popularity which can assist aspiring DJs decide what songs they should play in clubs or at events.
Streaming platforms also enable dance artists to reach a global audience via virtual performances. For instance, ballet galas can be streamed live online so audiences worldwide can buy tickets and watch the performance from home. Meanwhile, Kathak dancers can host workshops online that share their skills with viewers from diverse locations and cultures.
Dance music has the ability to unify people across cultures. Its vibrant beats and infectious melodies foster a sense of unity and belonging across gender and sexuality lines; creating a sense of togetherness regardless of one’s gender or orientation. Dance has become an integral part of LGBTQ+ culture and remains an effective means of self-expression today.
Dance music’s universal appeal makes it a powerful medium for social activism and community building. As society becomes more divided and divisive, dance music provides individuals with an outlet to express their emotions and form meaningful bonds with those they care about on an interpersonal level.
Dance artists in EDM have also harnessed collaboration as an engine of creativity, often working with celebrated musicians and singers to produce exciting tracks. Some notable collaborations include Clifford Price (also known as Goldie) from 1990s drum and bass style heavily influenced by jazzy breakbeats and deep bass sounds; or EDM producers like Daft Punk inviting singer Pharrell Williams and guitarist Nile Rodgers to work together on their hit song Get Lucky from 2010s EDM productions.
Digital technology has fundamentally transformed how dance music is produced and distributed. Utilizing artificial intelligence (AI), producers are now able to automate mixing and mastering processes without needing extensive audio engineering knowledge – this has allowed aspiring dance music producers to make their tracks sound more professional, opening more avenues for monetization.