Recommended club and dance music

Recommended Western dance music for beginners: world-famous classics and popular hits.

DancerFukkun:)Tatsuki Fukuda
Primarily active in Tokyo, I have experience as a backup dancer for artists, a music video dancer, and a commercial dancer. I continue to work as a dancer while also engaging in article production. After discovering Michael Jackson in junior high school, I began dancing in my second year of high school. Since starting dance, in addition to the J-Pop and Japanese rock I had been listening to, I began exploring Western R&B, rap, alternative music, and other tracks commonly used for dance. In elementary school, I spent three years in a choir, and because I love singing, I often go to karaoke for fun. These days, I enjoy a wide range of music, from Japanese rock and rap to K-pop.
Former vocal coach specializing in Western musicRyo
With the motto “Learn the basics and enjoy putting them into practice,” I worked as a vocal coach specializing in Western music. As a teen, I questioned the idea that “Western music equals English,” and started listening to songs from around the world. Today, I devour music from over 80 countries and run a personal blog introducing tracks. I often listen to genres like nuevo flamenco, bolero, canzone, and R&B. I’ll keep updating articles daily to find the one perfect song you’re looking for!

Dance music, always at the forefront of the scene and loved by many listeners.

When you think of dance music, you might imagine an irresistibly upbeat sound.

However, since the 2020s began, dance music has undergone a major shift.

Unlike earlier styles, moodier, more downbeat tracks have become mainstream, with refined taste being valued over sheer catchiness.

Even within what we broadly call dance music, there are many different styles—just as there are many kinds of dance, the moods of dance tracks vary widely.

Here, we’ve selected dance music that even beginners can enjoy.

Beginner-Friendly Western Dance Music: World Classics and Popular Tracks (21–30)

Shake It OffTaylor Swift

Taylor Swift – Shake It Off

Shake It OffTaylor Swift

This song, included on Taylor’s popular-in-Japan album 1989 and a Grammy Award winner, lets you dance freely without worrying about choreography—just like the scene in the PV’s final chorus where Taylor and the Swifties (the name for Taylor’s fans) dance together.

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Up, Up and AwayBlush

Up Up And Away

Up, Up and AwayBlush

This is a song by Blush, a group of five young Asian American girls from Singapore, India, Hong Kong, Japan, and Korea.

It’s included on a dance music album, and even beginners will enjoy dancing to it.

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HappyPharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams – Happy (Official Music Video)

HappyPharrell Williams

There are many dance versions of “Happy,” and many people have probably seen celebrities dancing to this song.

Its catchy melody makes it easy to dance to, and it’s especially recommended for street-style dancing like in the music video.

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ReplayZendaya

Zendaya – Replay

ReplayZendaya

At first glance it seems like a laid-back ballad, so you might wonder, “Can you really dance to this?” But as you can see from Zendaya in the music video, it’s surprisingly easy to dance to.

The choreography in the video is simple once you get the hang of it, so I recommend giving it a try.

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Run The WorldBeyoncé

Beyoncé – Run the World (Girls) (Official Video)

Run The WorldBeyoncé

Beyoncé, the world’s songstress, has a hit track called “Run the World.” In the music video, Beyoncé shows off some sexy dance moves.

For beginners, dancing as hot as Beyoncé might be difficult, but it’s a song you can enjoy just by moving to the music.

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