A Level Media Coursework: History of Dance Music

10 years of Dance Music: The Documentary

Dance music is composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can either be a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement. In terms of performance, the major categories are live dance music and recorded dance music.Modern popular dance music initially emerged from the late 19th century's Western ballroom and social dance music. During the early 20th century, ballroom dancing gained popularity among the working class who attended public dance halls. Dance music became enormously poplar during the 1920s. In the 1930s, called the swing era, swing music was popular dance music in America. In the 1950s, rock and roll became popular dance music. The late 1960s saw the rise of soul and R&B music. The rise of disco in the early 1970s led to dance music becoming popular with the public. By the late 1970s, electronic dance music was developing. This music, made using electronics, is a style of popular music commonly played in nightclubs, radio stations, shows and raves. Many subgenres of electronic dance music has evolved. 

What was the state of the dance music industry in 2003?

• In 'terminal decline'.
• Vinyl record sales were declining.
• Clubs were closing.
• Magazines (companies) were folding.
• Difficult to start-up a label.

What technological changes made an impact on dance music? What was the impact?

• Digital change- from Vinyl records to digital musics e.g. laptops, Apps on mobile devices etc.
• Impact: Technology became cheaper and access to technology becomes easier, therefore  production was opened up to a wider audience.

List some traditional DJs interviewed. What do you know about them?

 Will Saul:

Music producer and the founder of sample records and Aus Music. He started in the dance music industry in 2003.

Fatboy Slim:
English DJ, musician, multi-instrumentalist and record producer/ mixer. Fatboy S lim has won ten MTV video awards and two Brit awards. 

Hardwell:

A Dutch electro house DJ, record producer and remixer from Breda, theNetherlands. He was voted the world number one DJ on DJ magazine in 2013 and again in 2014.

What were seen as traditional genres of dance music?

• House
• Techno
• Drum
• Bass

What are some of the new dance genres mentioned in the film?

• Electronic Dance Music 

Why is there a conflict between traditional dance and EDM in America?

• There is a conflict between traditional dance and EDM because in American it is "bad" to dance as it was referred to as "gay".