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Sticks Bracelets
From Buddy Holly to Glow Stick Necklaces: the Evolution of Dance Culture
Dance culture as we now understand it first began to emerge in the fifties, with some of the parties associated with rock and roll. In 1958, Buddy Holly's music described the feeling that the party would never end, something that captured the mood of the time. But it wasn't until electronic music kicked in that the genre developed to acquire that special element which we associate now with fast beats, light shows, and glow stick necklaces. Garage rock and psychedelica bands made the term part of the ‘hippy' fascination with experimental music and dancing.
By the time of David Bowie in the early 1970s, things had moved on a little from the early days of rock and roll – at least in the UK – to become more sophisticated and self-reflexive. In the seventies, experimental electronica had fallen out of fashion, not to be revived by the kids with loud stereo systems and glow stick necklaces for a few years yet.
But the original culture continued to be current in Jamaica, and was exported back to Britain and America to describe a new type of music becoming fashionable in the late eighties. This is when the dance scene as we know it today really began. Psychedelica, techno, and most importantly, acid house parties, started up in clubs and free parties (often held in warehouses, fields or other abandoned spaces) around Manchester and later, London. These could attract up to 25,000 people – the phenomenon was really catching on. The scene was firmly established by the turn of the decade, when the eighties became the nineties and the club scene became more firmly rooted in the cultural consciousness.
However, this time didn't yet include the feel-good benevolence and glow stick necklaces and bracelets of the late nineties. Still in the Thatcherite years, the dance scene had an element of protest and politics to them. This was the time when the Ibiza tradition was in its inception, and big clubs were starting to develop, dedicated especially to passionate dance fans.
As time went on the dance scene became more and more acceptable – in the same way that rock and roll had been subversive in its time, but later went mainstream and ‘respectable'. These events were held in fields and warehouses with the owners' permission, and made big parties popular. There was a feel-good, loving atmosphere to these events; and this is when glow stick necklaces and bracelets really became popular. But by now the dance-party scene was split into several different sub groups, as dance music developed and diversified. Jungle and happy hardcore were joining old skool, techno and psychedelica.
‘Uniforms' for the scene became popular around this time. ‘Pumps,' three button shirts, fluorescent yellow jackets, white gloves and white belts joined glow stick necklaces and bracelets as part of the traditional costume. Nowadays, most of these special clothes are no longer seen – but glow stick necklaces and bracelets are still going strong, and have diversified. Now used by partiers at all kinds of venues, from the local pub or a house party to giant warehouse gigs, glow stick necklaces and bracelets are the most visible reminder of the dance scene today.
Dance culture has often been associated with the tenets of Peace, Love, Unity and Respect: united under the acronym PLUR which serves as a logo or slogan at many events. In the late nineties, the extra element, Responsibility, was added to signify a move towards events based on friendship and community. With glow stick necklaces around their necks, and a genuine wish to party together, the phenomenon that began in the 1950s and 60s are still seen in the party scenes, from London to Berlin to San Francisco.
About the Author
James Cameron wrote the Article about glow stick bracelets and found the following website useful http://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/everyday-innovations/light-stick.htm
Where can I find party glow bracelets in London? Like the glow sticks, but the ones that go around your wrist.
I've looked in a lot of places, supermarkets, Woolworths and the Entertainer as well as others. Does anyone know specifically where I can get them in London? I can get to Greater or Central and I desperately need these by Thursday. Thanks in advance. Please, no web ads. I don't have time to wait for postage.
yeah most card stores sell them and joke shops good luck and enjoy the party!!!
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