In 2010, Dutch hard dance powerhouse Q-dance celebrates its decade milestone. Over those ten years, Q-dance has set the bar for towering production and event theming, while flying the flag for the harder styles of dance music around the world. This September, they’ll bring the full force of Defqon.1 back to Australia following its explosive debut in 2009. In a rare interview, Q-dance looks back over its history with inthemix.

Hard dance music has evolved quit a bit over the last 10 years. How has Q-dance seen the scene evolving and what part has Q-dance played in shaping that evolution?
It all started in the early ‘90s when the hardcore sound was spreading worldwide and became a booming business, with most hardcore fans visiting parties on a weekly basis. Hardcore during that time became a mainstream sound. This all ended in the late ‘90s when hardcore returned to the ‘underground’. Many people even said hardcore died, but in reality it never did, because we noticed that the party crowd was still showing an enormous interest for the styles of the early ‘90s.

Q-dance (back then called Qlass Elite) started a series of parties under the name 91-92 at the Hemkade 48 in Zaandam. Soon after, Q-dance introduced another classics-concept, Houseqlassics. In 1999, DJs started combining old classic hits with a new sound that came from England – UK hard house. UK hard house was a faster style of trance and techno, supported by a fierce bassline. Immediately the popularity of the sound gained momentum, however it became evident that the crowd preferred something harder.

During this time a new form of hard house emerged from Germany and Italy. It was characterised with more power and less speed; a combination of German hard trance and Italian hard-bass techno.

In 2001, Q-dance launched a series of parties called ‘Qlubtempo’. Qlubtempo started as a diverse, eclectic club night with a mix of harder dance genres as its signature sound. Hard trance, old style, techno, progressive and even some UK hard dance melted together into the perfect blend. Q-dance observed the crowd’s reactions were more enthusiastic in particular moments of certain tracks. Bookings for the next Qlubtempo nights were on the rise for these DJs that were producing this kind of music.

One of these DJs was Technoboy, aka Cristiano Giusberti, who literally blew the audience away with his pounding, yet uplifting sound. Hardstyle was born. From the fourth Qlubtempo onwards, Q-dance referred to hardstyle as their main signature. Many Dutch DJs adapted to this sound quickly and the first generation of hardstyle artists were seen at most of the Q-dance shows.

This first generation of DJs were Luna, Pavo, Technoboy, Gary-D and of course the leading lady in this genre, Dana. They pushed hardstyle to the next level and brought this sound to big events like Shockers and Innercity. Dana conquered the hardstyle throne and was crowned ‘Queen of Hardstyle’ at the first solo edition of X-Qlusive in January 2003 – a true highlight in the young history of hardstyle. The hardstyle sound was first introduced to the Australian scene by Zany in 2004, where he played in a club at Bondi Junction. In 2005, Technoboy set his pounding rhythms on the audience at a sold-out night at Space Nightclub in Sydney.

It was during this time Q-dance grew rapidly and their reputation reached that of hardstyle pioneers. Many new concepts like the Defqon.1 Festival, In Qontrol and Q-BASE were launched and contributed to this status. These events stood out in terms of production standards and creativity in concept stage design and were fully supported by impressive DJ line-ups. This, together with the dedication of the Q-dance crowd, enabled the organisers to take events to the next level.

With Q-dance Australia taking off over the past few years, events have been steadily growing and the hard dance community increasing in popularity. There are more developments to come for Q-dance Australia. Q-dance turns 10 this year and the motto ‘We’ve only just begun’ truly resonates with the hardstyle community in Australia. Check out the next edition of Defqon.1 for an education in hardstyle and learn what it’s all about.

Q-dance really raised the bar in terms of production, and what to expect from events like Defqon.1 Festival. Where is that creative inspiration coming from?
The company name has been chosen with care. The capital Q that represents the brand stands for the Q of ‘Quality’, because since the beginnings of Q-dance ‘quality’ has been the guideline in the company’s philosophy. And after ten years the Q-philosophy is still even powerful as in the beginnings. All people involved in Q are true music lovers, which is one of the reasons why ‘maximum experience’ at our parties has always been the starting point.

The office is regularly the stage for heavy brainstorm sessions. Everyone can share their suggestions, ideas and opinions. When the people inside the organisation think something is cool, there is a 99-percent chance the visitor shares the same opinion. The main key is to think as a visitor and keep in mind what they want. Visiting a Q-dance event has to stir up all senses and has to exceed all previous experiences. Elements like visuals, sounds, show, fireworks, acts, decor, lasers and light are all aspects that melt together during an event to make it the spectacle we had in mind at the time of the brainstorm.

Another important element about the events is that Q-dance is on the cutting edge of the new music that’s coming out. It’s not just about the spectacle. How does Q-dance find up and coming artists?
Hard dance music is evolving constantly, so as one of the leading promoters in the scene we feel it as our duty to be on the cutting edge of what’s coming. We always try to look ahead of everyone else; it’s part of our philosophy. We want to be innovative at every aspect of our events, no matter if it’s the production or the music.

How do we find out about new artists or music styles? Simple: just like everyone else does. On the internet, at parties (big or small) or word of mouth, and we also like to organise DJ contests. But we have to admit, we do not always find them – new talent also knows how to find us. We receive demos every day from new talent. Some are better than others and once in a while we listen to a demo and we know directly a new hard dance star has just been born.

What has been the most memorable event to date, and why?
In the history of Q-dance our most memorable moments are ‘the first times’. To name a few: the first edition of Defqon.1 Festival, Qlimax, Q-BASE, and not to forget the first international edition of Defqon.1 in Australia. But these moments are not only our most memorable, but probably also for our visitors.

Qlimax: A giant leap forward was achieved in 2003 with the first stadium gig in the Gelredome, The Netherlands. A huge roofed, darkened football arena, which offered all the facilities a huge production like Qlimax needs. The recently renewed sound system – with countless speakers hanging right over the visitors’ heads – meant the location was unrivalled at the time. At Qlimax, there are 27,500 people partying like there’s no tomorrow. There are only two party licenses a year, and they dwarf those few complaints from neighbours.

Defqon.1 Festival The Netherlands: On the eve of Defqon.1 Festival, 14 June 2003, the Q crew were done in the nick of time. After weeks of practically no sleep, our monster job was finally finished. By sunset, the huge production was finished at last. During the sound and light tests, everyone’s eyes started twinkling with happiness. The entire crew truly felt ultimate joy. A really intense experience, and then the festival was sold out as well!

Q-BASE: By 2004, neighbouring countries have also gotten wind of the hardstyle madness raging in The Netherlands. The first country to be infected by the Q-dance virus is Germany, where the largest international overnight harder-styles festival ever is being held. The 2004 first edition is musically more than successful and attracts an army of dance lovers from abroad, but the logistics end up to be a small nightmare. A broken-down-bus – on a one-way road during the ferry service – stalled the arrival of visitors. When the police also shut down a highway exit, some people were stranded in their cars for hours. Fortunately, in the following years, Q-BASE has been able to prove that both the location and the festival itself are unsurpassed.

Defqon.1 Festival Australia 2009: Defqon.1 Festival’s international premiere, staged in Sydney, Australia, is one of the most emotional moments of the past ten years. The Aussies are treated to a full-blown Q-dance festival, including all the bells and whistles. When the doors of Defqon.1 finally open, the ‘down under’ edition seems to explode with joy. The energy released by the crowd at that moment was the most impressive expression of joy we’ve ever witnessed. This experience on the other side of the world was better than any of the other ‘first times’, and there are really no words to describe it.

What is the vision for Q-dance in the ten years to come?
Even though we’re already ten years on our way, the end destination is still many light years away. We are positive about the years to come, but we stay critical about new locations, concepts and artists. We are constantly looking for new things to introduce for the party people of the future. We’ve only just begun!

> Head here for a ten-year Q-dance photo retrospective, spanning some of the incredible themes and set-pieces from parties and festivals over the decade.

> Marvel at the photos from the 10 Years of Q-dance party in Amsterdam earlier this month.