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Dance music’s core genres have influenced pop for decades. We dig into their impact on the mainstream

Sara Simms

Sara Simms is an acclaimed DJ and producer from Toronto who’s played some of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals alongside artists like Carl Craig, Victor Ruiz and more. She owns her own record label, Simmetry Sounds which releases cuttingedge techno and house tracks crafted by the next generation of electronic music producers

Dance pop is a genre that combines both pop and dance influences. Its song structures tend to be more similar to pop arrangements, and songs in this genre emphasise melody and catchy hooks. Due to their broad appeal they're created to be played in clubs and on mainstream radio.

The genre has existed since the early 1980s and continues to gain more recognition globally. The Grammy Award for Best Dance Pop Record was presented for the first time at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024. The Recording Academy announced that the Dance Pop award goes to tracks and singles that feature up-tempo, danceable music that follow a pop arrangement, with strong rhythmic beats, electronic-based instruments, and an emphasis on the vocal performance, melody and hooks.