Dance music in the past two decades has become increasingly associated with a certain set. You probably know the type: early to late ‘20s or early ‘30s, male, dark loose clothing, casual drug use. But does this image still fit?

The last time dance music was mainstream-popular and covered widely by the press was the period from 1988–90. Sometimes called the Second Summer of Love, this era saw the introduction of ecstasy, turntable-ism (not live music) and huge free warehouse parties in Manchester.

What was eventually called rave culture and acid-house (yes, that acid) developed from crowded working-class clubs throughout the UK, Continental Europe and the United States. Glow sticks, second-generation party drugs and bizarre clothing spread rapidly throughout the metropolitan world and were a common cliché by the mid–‘90s.

After a decade of cultural conservatism following the liberalization of the West in the ‘60s and ‘70s, youth culture swung back to hedonism and disco. Reagan probably never did ecstasy, but many people did while he was still politico numero uno. These early ‘90s club kids still go out sometimes, but they are playing a decreasing role on the scene.

The ‘90s were a dead time for dance music. Electronica in general became more inclusive and mainstream, while at the same time becoming more experimental. The ‘90s saw the rise of both Moby (remixes of pop Americana) and Aphex Twin (dissonant hardcore techno). Today, alternative or indie dance is becoming a huge genre, if not a commercially successful one.

Punk attitude is merging with electronic instrumentation to create a new genre more acceptable to mainstream ears. The French disco/house of Daft Punk and Justice represents the core of newer dance music. Poppy bands like LCD Soundsystem, Hot Chip and Klaxons all recombine the divergent aesthetic and musical codes of the last two decades to produce fresh grooves.

Fashion has also progressed while reverting backward: ‘80s sneakers, leopard prints, neon and tights are back with a vengeance in hipster clubs from Los Angeles to Berlin. Bright American Apparel sweatshirts and punky Vans shoes mirror the mixture of canonized ‘80s underground culture (read: Sonic Youth) and ‘80s pop artifice (Prince or Michael Jackson).

Dance clubs in Seattle that exhibit the new dance music trends host small, but very popular monthly and weekly parties. These include Sing Sing, Ruff Gemz, some shows at Neumos and Club Pop.

Many of the parties are 21+, but a few that overlap with touring artists (CSS, Crystal Castles, M.I.A.) are all-ages shows. Club pop at Chop Suey is always 18+ and predictably it has been shut down several times by the cops for being too crowded/awesome.