“Dancestasy”: Dance and MDMA Use in Dutch Youth Culture

House music was the dominant youth subculture in the Netherlands during the 1980s and 1990s, centered on all-night parties and MDMA (Ecstasy) use. The article reviews the history of the Dutch house scene and examines the psychological effects of dancing while on MDMA, termed "dancestasy." Although MDMA can be physically and cognitively harmful, the dancestasy experience may positively contribute to personal and social identity development in adolescence. Ethnographic studies suggest temporary negative effects on school or work functioning. After several years in the scene, leisure time becomes less important, and young adults resume social responsibilities.

Study at a glance

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.