The Definitive History of UK Dance Music

Every Saturday
21 June - 5 July
1904-2000

Zoe Ball presents the story of UK dance music and its development, as told by some of the biggest names on the scene.
 
Programme 3: Underground, overground - 1994 to the present day

In 1993, dance music reached a critical mass. The Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994 effectively outlawed raves and so the ravers became clubbers - and moved back indoors.
 
Dance music became big business; Ministry of Sound began to expand its empire - from clubs through to a record label, radio and TV stations. Radio 1, which had ignored it, now had a variety of dance shows on offer.


Programme 2: Explosion - 1988-1993

This was dance music's finest hour and a milestone in the history of UK youth culture.

The impact of the first seminal clubs - Shoom, Future, The Trip, Land of Oz and The Hacienda - created a media furore not seen since the emergence of punk.

Although there were subtle but important regional differences in sound, the same spirit was found in the clubs of Glasgow, Stoke, Cardiff, London and Bristol.

Raves moved to bigger outdoor venues, culminating with a three day event for over 30,000 people at Castlemorton in Worcestershire.


Programme 1: From casinos to warehouses - 1970-1987

We start with the seventies and US Billboard magazine naming the Wigan Casino Best Disco in the World, ahead of New York's infamous Studio 54. Then the story moves on to the eighties and its emerging soul scene.

The programme explores and contextualises Jazz Funk, Hip Hop and early house, and highlights how these forms were the pre-cursor to 1988's dance music explosion.


Featuring contributions from Sasha, Russ Winstanley, Pete Tong, Ian Levine, Fabio, Jazzie B, Norman Jay and Paul Oakenfold, as well as songs from the early days of dance right through to the tracks of the last ten years.

This documentary is part of BBC Radio 2's Dance Season.