MDMA as a Dance Drug

Summary

The connection between drugs and dancing has existed since ancient times, with parallels between medieval 'dance epidemics' and modern MDMA use at dance parties. MDMA's synergy with dancing spontaneously emerged around 1983 when enthusiast Michael Clegg sold it in Texas nightlife, leading to its rapid spread as a 'dance drug'. From 1985, MDMA reached Europe via Ibiza's dance scene, where UK disc jockeys became enthusiasts and launched MDMA-fueled parties in London. The Netherlands, with tolerant drug policies and Amsterdam's trade, became a distribution hub. The text outlines musical style evolution, key events, and ravers' positive and negative experiences.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The association between drugs and dancing extends back to ancient times. Parallels can be seen between spontaneous medieval ‘dance epidemics’ and contemporary use of MDMA at dance parties. As a forerunner, MDA was used at dance parties in the late 1960s. However, it was only when the MDMA enthusiast Michael Clegg began to sell MDMA in parts of the Texas night-life scene that the synergy of MDMA and dancing spontaneously arose around 1983, which led to the rapid distribution of MDMA as a ‘dance drug’. From 1985 onwards, MDMA enjoyed a new career as a dance drug and found its way to Europe via the dance scene on the Spanish island of Ibiza: Ibiza dance parties were visited by some prominent disc jockeys from the UK, who became enthusiastic MDMA aficionados and launched the first MDMA-fuelled dance parties in London. The Netherlands, with its more tolerant drug policy and international trade through its capital Amsterdam, also became a distribution hub. The evolution of musical styles related to MDMA-fuelled dance parties are outlined, together with the more important events surrounding them, and descriptions of the experiences of ravers, both positive and negative, are also presented.