This article examines how dance genres evolved in these three countries over two decades. It explores the relationship between artistic movements, market forces, and cultural institutions in shaping dance genres. The study emphasizes how dance styles are not just artistic expressions but are also influenced by economic, social, and institutional factors.
The study employs a comparative historical analysis of dance genres in the US, UK, and the Netherlands. The researchers use archival research, interviews, and secondary data to examine the development of specific dance genres over time. They analyse how different actors—including dancers, choreographers, music producers, cultural policymakers, and media—interact to shape the dance landscape. The study also considers how market forces (such as commercial success) and social movements (such as cultural or political activism) contribute to the emergence and transformation of dance genres.
Key findings
- United States (US): The US served as a breeding ground for new dance genres, largely driven by the influence of the entertainment industry. Genres such as hip-hop and house dance emerged in urban environments and were later commercialized by the music industry. The rapid adoption by mainstream media and pop culture helped these styles gain global popularity.
- United Kingdom (UK): The UK acted as a cultural bridge between the US and Europe. It adopted and transformed existing styles, leading to the rise of hybrid genres such as UK garage, grime, and drum & bass. Unlike the US, where commercial exploitation often dominated, the UK fostered strong underground scenes that retained their unique identity, often in response to social and political circumstances.
- Netherlands: The Netherlands stood out for its strong institutional support for dance. The government and arts funding programs played a key role in promoting experimental and avant-garde dance forms, particularly within the electronic dance scene (such as gabber and trance). Dutch dance genres developed within a well-organized and subsidized cultural infrastructure, creating a balance between commercial and experimental movements.
- The role of grassroots movements: New dance genres often emerge in informal, underground scenes before being adopted by the mainstream.
- Commercialisation vs. cultural autonomy: While some styles are absorbed by the entertainment industry (like hip-hop in the US), others remain intentionally independent and niche (such as grime in the UK).
- Globalisation and digitalisation: The spread of dance genres accelerated in the late 1990s and early 2000s due to digital media, music videos, and the internet, leading to a faster global exchange of styles.
Researchers
Rens WilderomAlex van Venrooij