the demo version of FL Studio would set you up right away to create some pretty good dance music. rawr. i use that software a lot for most of my sequencing, albeit i do use lots of extra plugins. but the stock sounds would keep you busy. you can't save your file you are working on, but you can export things to wave or mp3, so you could make your own loops, and then send them to whatever layout program you are using.
i created almost all of this song using Fruity Loops studio. with the exception of my vocals and michelle's vocals. but even some of the stuttering on her voice could be done in FL too.
http://www.deltasmusic.com/damage%20control/01%20Damage%20Control.mp3