This universal appeal of rhythm and dance seems to be hardwired into our very nature. Subject research conducted by Samuel Mehr at Harvard University found that all cultures make music and use similar kinds of music in similar contexts. For example, dance music is consistently fast and rhythmic across cultures.
Moreover, another cross-cultural study concluded that music universally influences bodily sensations and emotions — such as changes in the chest, limbs, and head regions — regardless of cultural background.
And while scientists continue to puzzle over music's effect on our bodies and minds, those who make people dance for a living have their own insights. Rafe Gomez, a professional DJ and host of a livestream mix show, Danceteria REWIND, based in the NYC area, offers a practical perspective on what really gets people moving: "In the words of Preacher Jimmy Snow, the element that inspires people to move and groove is 'the beat, the beat, the beat!’ Also integral in the fuel to get bootys moving are BPMs, production elements, song structure, and song hooks. When these components are combined successfully, it will be impossible for humans to resist the temptation to shake their thangs."
More science behind music urging us to move
A study from Harvard Medical School found that music engages areas responsible for emotion (like the amygdala) and motor functions (the motor cortex). This explains why you can't help tapping your foot or nodding your head when a good beat drops.
And it’s not just about moving, as music also hits you right in the feels, too. The limbic system, which handles pleasure and reward, gets pretty agitated when you hear music you like. It's like your brain is throwing a party, and everyone's invited (that’s why I scream and run every time I hear LCD Soundsystem at any given party).
And there are clear correlations between different beats affecting your body. Rafe Gomez breaks it down for us: "Reggae is slow, sensual, and deep (60 to 70 BPMs). Rap is faster and hits harder (85 to 105 BPMs). Disco/house/EDM is even more upbeat (115 to 135 BPMs). And rock is faster and more raucous (140 and above BPMs)."
So, depending on what's playing, you might find yourself swaying sensually, bouncing aggressively, or running around like a madman.
Another study found that listening to music affects your heart rate variability. And get this — how your brain processes the beat of music can predict your heart's rate.
The Rockefeller University and NYU's Center for Ballet and the Arts have been poking around in our brains, trying to figure out why we dance. They've found that dancing and vocal learning share some brain real estate, suggesting they might have evolved together. And speaking of Rockefellers, they have always had a peculiar fascination with music and its influence on the human psyche. Dr. Leonard G. Horowitz, a highly accomplished scientist turned Music Therapy Pioneer and Energy Medicine Expert, claims that the Rockefeller Foundation was behind making 440Hz the standard tuning frequency in the US, following in the footsteps of the Reichsminister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda of Nazi Germany Joseph Goebbels, who did exactly that in 1939 an attempt to allegedly induce negative emotions and aggression amongst the population with that new standard.
Whether or not you think it’s yet another “conspiracy theory,” there’s a pretty cool video experiment comparing the sound of the same tunes played at 432Hz and 440Hz. And it’s pretty telling how different frequencies can make you feel.
To me Rockefeller University's interest in dancing and its relations with neuroscience is not surprising. Who knows, maybe they're the mastermind behind some of the degrading standards of popular dances these days.
From boomers to zoomers: dancing through the decades
Each generation thinks they've invented something new, but they're often just recycling old moves with a fresh twist. Let's recap the most iconic dancing moves of the last 100 years:
In the 1920s, Charleston was all the rage. Fast forward to the 30s and 40s, and swing dancing took over. The 50s brought rock 'n' roll. Then came the 60s, and everybody was doing "The Twist." Disco dominated the 70s. Then Michael Jackson moonwalked his way through the 80s, leaving everyone trying to figure out how he did it. The 90s gave us the Macarena. As we hit the 2000s, hip-hop took center stage. Then social media entered the picture, and everything changed.
Alex Veka, founder and CEO of Vibe Adventures, who has been passionate about music for years, explains it well: "I think that thanks to social networks like TikTok and Instagram, young people have become closer to these dance rhythms and can become closer to exercise, which is something that I see positive in this type of trends on social networks. Also, these new generations have the opportunity to add something from each other to these dances without feeling ashamed about it since more people are not afraid of showing their best dance steps through these networks."
Suddenly, dance trends were spreading faster than ever. The 2010s saw Gangnam Style and the Harlem Shake go viral. And now, we've got TikTok challenges creating new dance crazes almost weekly. Take the Renegade, for example. Created by Jalaiah Harmon, this routine set to K CAMP's "Lottery" for no apparent reason became a global sensation and millions of people have tried to recreate it.
But it's not just the dance moves that have changed. The places we dance have evolved too. We've gone from ballrooms to nightclubs to... well, our bedrooms. Thanks to technology, you can now dance alone in your room and share it with the world.
The DJ's secret sauce for the perfect dance floor experience
One of our readers shared a fun experience with us: "I remember one specific birthday party a long time ago: when I hit the start button and turned a 200 people crowd into a massive dance floor from scratch and with one single track. This experience marked me forever. No material, no DJ skills, just a random crowd of friends of friends of mine."
So, if it's not about the gear or the technical know-how, what's the secret? We asked Rafe Gomez. His insights reveal that reading a crowd is more about psychology: "Non-DJs must put their own preferences aside and adopt a 'buyer-focused mindset' — in the case of spinners, the 'buyers' are the people on the dancefloor. Non-DJs can use their best guesses to measure a crowd's preferences as they present different tracks. Even better, non-DJs can survey particular people who appear to be dancefloor influencers and get their input on the exact songs that they'd like to hear. These individuals' energy and enthusiasm can inspire an entire room to join them once the music starts, and the party would build from there."
But what kind of music works best? Gomez is clear on this:
"When performing for a celebration event, it's all about the hits. No experimentation, unique curation, or education is allowed: the main ingredient is having as many people knowing the songs that are being played as possible."
Timing matters too. "Non-DJs can use their best guesses to measure a crowd's preferences as they present different tracks," Gomez advises.
Watch the crowd. See what works. Adjust accordingly. It's a constant feedback loop. Sometimes all it takes is one perfect track to turn a funeral into a festival.
Is there a generational divide on the dance floor?
Different age groups approach dancing differently. The silent generation might prefer a smooth foxtrot, while Gen Z busts out TikTok dance challenges. But at its core, the music’s ability urging us to move goes beyond age.
Nostalgia plays a big role in our dance preferences. As Alex Veka, founder and CEO of Vibe Adventures, points out: "The emotional and social situation differs from each generation and their musical taste." Your grandpa's eyes might light up at a Sinatra tune, while you lose it when your favorite tune from the 2010s comes on. We're all chasing that feeling of "our" music.
Neuroscience backs this up. When we hear familiar music, our brains react. The emotional centers, memory hubs, and motor areas all start grooving together.
Evolutionary theories suggest we've been dancing since before we could walk upright. One study found that certain dance moves might signal qualities like strength and vigor, especially in mating contexts. This was more relevant for adults of reproductive age, suggesting our perception of dance changes as we get older.
The same research revealed that group synchrony in dance triggers coordinated physiological responses. This includes increased emotional bonding and a boost in endorphin production. So while your grandma might not be a part of yet another TikTok dance challenge, she's probably got her own way of expressing that universal human need to move to the beat. The dance floor might look different across generations, but the joy of dancing? That's timeless.
