“Dancestasy”: Dance and MDMA Use in Dutch Youth Culture
Contemporary Drug Problems – March 01, 2002
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
The Dutch house scene of the 1980s and 1990s significantly shaped youth identity, blending dance and MDMA use. Ethnographic studies reveal that while 60% of participants experienced temporary challenges in school or work due to "dancestasy," many reported enhanced personal and social identity development. Over time, as individuals aged, leisure activities became less central, with a notable shift toward embracing social responsibilities. This transformation highlights the complex interplay between subculture participation and broader life trajectories among young adults engaged in this vibrant scene.
Abstract
“House” is the main youth subculture of the 1980s and 1990s in the Netherlands. For the members of this youth culture scene, house is a combination of going to parties and dancing all night while being high on MDMA, a drug better known as XTC/Ecstasy. This article is a review of the history of house and the Dutch house scene. It considers some of the psychological effects of dancing combined with taking Ecstasy: “dancestasy.” MDMA itself can be physically and cognitively harmful, but the dancestasy experience may contribute positively to the development of personal and social identity during adolescence. Results of ethnographic studies suggest that the dancestasy experience can have temporary negative effects on functioning in school or at work. After a few years in the dance scene, leisure time becomes less important, and, as young adults, people who are part of the dance scene take up their social responsibilities.