Anais nin Carms Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Last night I was watching Brents son on the floor and I just couldn't take my eyes off watching those young legs dancing so effortlessly and it got me wondering , it must have been an amazing sight seeing 80 % of the room dance as well as that . I mentioned it to Nige and he was saying that the best dancers danced at the front ... I wondered who they were and how was it controlled , or did dancers just know their place ? It doesn't happen today I guess ? because there arn't that many exceptional dancers . I could have watched that lad dance all night . Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Popular Post Pete S Posted October 16, 2011 Popular Post Share Posted October 16, 2011 That's just a myth, you danced anywhere you liked, loads of great dancers all over the place. Anyone could walk to the front and dance there, I did it loads of times, but we preferred to stay in our corner bottom left. 5 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Tony Foster Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 (edited) Exceptional dancers or what Edited October 16, 2011 by Tony Foster 2 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Matt Male Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 I tended to dance at the back around ten feet in near the middle. You tended to dance near your bags and mates. I usually prefer back right hand corner or middle of the floor thesedays, if I can get in that space. Never left hand side or near the stage and never near the speakers. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Cunnie Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 So Pete favoured the left & Matt the right. Just the same with your politics then 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
hullsoul Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 That's just a myth, you danced anywhere you liked, loads of great dancers all over the place. Anyone could walk to the front and dance there, I did it loads of times, but we preferred to stay in our corner bottom left. Pete I must admit I've read that about the best dancers at the front on here a few times & always thought well it was a rule I never knew about,glad to find out it's a "myth". Looking from the stage we usually danced around about the back third on the left hand side.........there was some bloody great dancers round there so if the "myth" was true they must have been superstars at the front Cheers Martyn Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Pete S Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 So Pete favoured the left & Matt the right. Just the same with your politics then Er, probably the opposite actually LOL 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mark S Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 At the front to the right of the stage didnt notice any heirachy ever you just danced . Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Anais nin Carms Posted October 16, 2011 Author Share Posted October 16, 2011 Lol now thats funny Tone looks like Spanner on a good day. The first Rave eh 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest sharmo 1 Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Last night I was watching Brents son on the floor and I just couldn't take my eyes off watching those young legs dancing so effortlessly and it got me wondering , it must have been an amazing sight seeing 80 % of the room dance as well as that . I mentioned it to Nige and he was saying that the best dancers danced at the front ... I wondered who they were and how was it controlled , or did dancers just know their place ? It doesn't happen today I guess ? because there arn't that many exceptional dancers . I could have watched that lad dance all night . Hi Carmen how are you sweetie is nige o.k ? you know there are specialist clubs that strange women like you can go to to watch young men "Dance " regards Friday Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Anais nin Carms Posted October 16, 2011 Author Share Posted October 16, 2011 Really really really ( said in an east riding accent ) Siiiiiiiiiimon you are the Bon lol , dandy mate Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest john-h Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Exceptional dancers or what Albainian car booters discover northern cd Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest sharmo 1 Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Really really really ( said in an east riding accent ) Siiiiiiiiiimon you are the Bon lol , dandy mate Thank you Carmen have a nice day love Simon.XXX Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Matt Male Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 So Pete favoured the left & Matt the right. Just the same with your politics then Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Matt Male Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 (edited) Funny thing is you can never see the dancers at the front of the stage, so who knows who they are and how good? On the odd occasion i've been to Stoke and stood around the edge at the back I have no idea who is up front until it thins out around 5am. Best place has to be at the back middle so the drinkers can stand and admire. Edited October 16, 2011 by Matt Male Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Anais nin Carms Posted October 16, 2011 Author Share Posted October 16, 2011 No best place is on top Matt.... the balcony view lets you see all , I have spent many hour at Blackpool picking out the best dancers from above , interesting how some dancers do move their pitch around the floor too. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Russ Vickers Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Wigan - middle LH side looking at the stage, maybe slightly forward of that. In M's used to dance on the balcony on one of those pieces of hardboard, thats were I would perfect my moves !. Next day at Top of the World or Lacarno, would spend nearly all day just on the edge of the dancefloor waiting for the breaks to practice spins for WC the next week - seemed important at the time LOL. I did hear that rumour about best at the front & Sparky & Winston always seemed to be round about there - never thought to check it & no one ever told me were not to dance.... Best Russ Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Denbo Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 That's just a myth, you danced anywhere you liked, loads of great dancers all over the place. Anyone could walk to the front and dance there, I did it loads of times, but we preferred to stay in our corner bottom left. I, for one, danced wherever space opened up, didn't matter where it was, if I was in the mood then anywhere would do. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
tim smithers Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Right hand side near the front, was never told to get to the back, and i wasnt the best dancer in the world Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest MrC Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Sa That's just a myth, you danced anywhere you liked, loads of great dancers all over the place. Anyone could walk to the front and dance there, I did it loads of times, but we preferred to stay in our corner bottom left. Wasn't the whole best dancers at the front thing a result of the Jethro (wolves)/ Sandy (bolton) dance rivalry and footsie on TOTP? Sandy was always at the front, Vernon (no1 spinner) danced near the front too, but I was always in the wolves corner - just as you walked through the doors into the main room Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
coops Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 used to dance near the front, back to the stage, was a shyte dancer then (still am) never had any bad vibes from those with but one left foot (maybe they felt sorry for me) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
MrsWoodsrules Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 There was no dance hierarchy at Wigan, I do remember the front on the stage got hogged with cassette tape recorders all on on 'record'. Best dancer in my day was Chris Hurley, much better than Sandy, a remember a black guy called Winstone, OMG his spin was like no one else's, just amazing to watch. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Matt Male Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Wigan - middle LH side looking at the stage, maybe slightly forward of that. In M's used to dance on the balcony on one of those pieces of hardboard, thats were I would perfect my moves !. Next day at Top of the World or Lacarno, would spend nearly all day just on the edge of the dancefloor waiting for the breaks to practice spins for WC the next week - seemed important at the time LOL. I did hear that rumour about best at the front & Sparky & Winston always seemed to be round about there - never thought to check it & no one ever told me were not to dance.... Best Russ Brum Locarno spent most of my time in those big changing rooms dancing in front of the full length mirrors Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Otis Smith Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 I usually spent all my time in the record bar, so when I had the urge to dance, it was at the back, left hand side as you came in. The only exception, I danced at the front, was near the front stage, near the gents toilets, as I used to mingle with the Preston crowd, Skat Cat etc, and searlings, first plays of Cecil Washington and Vickie Baines. Mind you though, there were some incredible dancers there, midweek. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
MrsWoodsrules Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 I usually spent all my time in the record bar, so when I had the urge to dance, it was at the back, left hand side as you came in. The only exception, I danced at the front, was near the front stage, near the gents toilets, as I used to mingle with the Preston crowd, Skat Cat etc, and searlings, first plays of Cecil Washington and Vickie Baines. Mind you though, there were some incredible dancers there, midweek. "gents toilets", that's a charitable description Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Headsy Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Pete I must admit I've read that about the best dancers at the front on here a few times & always thought well it was a rule I never knew about,glad to find out it's a "myth". Looking from the stage we usually danced around about the back third on the left hand side.........there was some bloody great dancers round there so if the "myth" was true they must have been superstars at the front Cheers Martyn Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Nick Harrison Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Christ................ sat - nav dancer's, location, location masses. Exclusive empty and free dance floor Saturday nite freedom after friday nite oldies. Then set your compass for the next 3 saturday nites. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Headsy Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Next to the Geordies then Martyn, I was a good dancer back then .........or at least I thought I was ...... If you know what I mean Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
MrsWoodsrules Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Anyone remember a guy called Frank Bupa, from Warrington/Widnes? I've met & spoke to him a few times in recent years, his day was before my time, but I"m told he was something else. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
hullsoul Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Next to the Geordies then Martyn, I was a good dancer back then .........or at least I thought I was ...... If you know what I mean Geoff Alright matey not seen you in awhile,be good if you can get out to play soon you've been missed The only Geordies I knew at Wigan or should I say N.East lads were Jinxy & Phil Joss..........I think you lot were a bit quiet & reserved so didn't notice you Cheers Martyn Martyn Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Davetay Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Anyone remember a guy called Frank Bupa, from Warrington/Widnes? I've met & spoke to him a few times in recent years, his day was before my time, but I"m told he was something else. You mean Frank Booper (spelling?).yeah he was a good dancer, but there loads of good ens as well in his time circa 73/74. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
manus Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Next to the Geordies then Martyn, I was a good dancer back then .........or at least I thought I was ...... If you know what I mean If you were looking down from the stage Jeff the North East crowd were about half way down on the left as you know - that was when you had your bootleg wedge haircut lol All the best Manus Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mach Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 at the front (facing the stage) by the left hand speaker, handy for the bogs, and for my bag behind the speaker and my phillips tape recorder on top, ..only prob was suffering from Tintinitus but it was worth it. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
MrsWoodsrules Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 I remember the dance competitions, never really liked them, they just used to break-up the night, lights on & all that. Load of B@ll@@ks, it's ironic, cos it's not what the scene was really about, even though it was about dancing a lot, if that makes sense. I know they were popular, just not with me. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 Anyone remember a guy called Frank Bupa, from Warrington/Widnes? I've met & spoke to him a few times in recent years, his day was before my time, but I"m told he was something else. Yeah, years ago I was on speaking terms with Booper, us Luton lads first met him at that allnighter in a cellar of a house in Bradford about 1970-72, Chiefy deffo went there so did Soulcarp, Linda Williams from Keighley also used to go. Booper, WITHOUT ANY SHADOW OF A DOUBT could dance the bollocks off any of the You Tubed Wigan dancers, the bulk of them HOP SKIP and JUMP, we used to glide, foot work was everything, the back drops/ forward drops/spins were optional extras, and as you say a lot of us from that era were pretty good. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Julie Moore Posted October 16, 2011 Share Posted October 16, 2011 I danced anywhere i could find the room not to get either a foot in the head or a fist in the mush from these`s spinning, kicking nutters Julie Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
spike1 Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 (edited) In 78 we had about a three month run of hiring 50 seater coaches from the Chesterfield / Mansfield area mainly we met at clay cross On the bus they would be about 20 to 25 hardcore dancers we practiced all week we copied moves of other dancers. At that time we mainly used to sit at the right hand side in the big room near the front I always danced in that area Did not feel at the time that there was a pecking order If I remember there was usually the Bolton crew at the front lots of Manc lads n lasses Sandy holt Julie bebb and a guy called vinney from leyland all danced at. The front Loads of top dancers if some one wanted to dance near you , you just gave them some space and respect if you knew that they were into fast spins or lots of acrobatics most dancers knew when to get out of the way! There would be some collisions but a quick smile shake if hands usually ended up in a lifelong friendship!! As the big floor was huge to me I did not matter where I danced as long as I danced there was some great dancers at the front but there was also some. great dancers All over I'm mr m's. You just danced where you could ! I agree carms the best place to watch was from the balcony used to go up there fir a breather and a smoke??? Spike Edited October 17, 2011 by spike1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Steve G Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 All the people who were at the front at Wigan are now officially DEAF or "hard of hearing"! Am glad this myth about best dancers at the front is killed off. Back then you danced where you wanted to or more importantly where you could find a bit of space on the floor. 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Stevie Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Always danced at the front, only reason as others have said was to keep an eye on cassette recorder in bag. I had boxes of those cassettes but chucked them all out when we moved house around 1991. Got back into the music in '95 and deeply regretted their loss. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest lambrettanik Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 na it was a fact in the late 70s and early 80s.i recall kids getting bumped off the floor for their lack of style and technique,if you werent up to the mark dancers would literally dance as close as possible to make you go off and dance else were,it happened at wigan,morcambe,stafford,parr hall warrington.nowa days its not prelevent at all dancers now seem to choose their own favourite spaces-mines usually away from the bar and exits to the loo,as people constantly walk up and down spilling drinks.some of the older dancers do still congregate around the left hand side of the stage at some venues.the good dancers are still out there,some like myself choose the venue and dj line up that suites.ive been to allnighters/soul nites were ive never left my seat,and others were the acrobatics come out of the closet because the music and atmosphere have been the right combination.(am i biggin myself up-yeh damd right-got the trophies to back it up,plus the artharitus and damaged hamstrings ) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest miss nancy Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 To be honest I always avoided the more 'acrobatic' dancers as you were more likely to get kicked in the head or smacked round the face if you were too near Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Middleman Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Personally I thought the acrobatics went a bit too far, sometimes is was like watching a gymnastics competition. For me it was all about the feet and the interpretation of the music. I'm sure I recall the "best" dancers right hand side of the stage, do remember one bloke always wore a vest and I'm sure he had longish hair, never stopped! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Paul Shirley Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 Last night I was watching Brents son on the floor and I just couldn't take my eyes off watching those young legs dancing so effortlessly and it got me wondering , it must have been an amazing sight seeing 80 % of the room dance as well as that . I mentioned it to Nige and he was saying that the best dancers danced at the front ... I wondered who they were and how was it controlled , or did dancers just know their place ? It doesn't happen today I guess ? because there arn't that many exceptional dancers . I could have watched that lad dance all night . nah they just loved themselves more than any of the others Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Geeselad Posted October 17, 2011 Share Posted October 17, 2011 there's a really good chapter in a book I have about this, the guy who wrote it went onto become a professional jazz dancer, if memory serves me right, will have to dig it out think its in some cultural studies conpendium, edited by cosgrove. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest lambrettanik Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 iam not saying someone who does the acrobatics is a "good dancer" iam not,because there are people who do the "gymnastics" and it looks dire its about getting the footwork and acrobatics just right ie the right record,tempo etc.even tho iam one of the few who still do the "gymnastics" as i said the atmosphere,venue and djs choice of tunes has to be right.id never do the "fancy"stuff for the sake of it,i have to be in the right frame of mind and i do it for me not to impress other people.and in response to the "left or right of the stage" debate- is it your left or my left? is your back to the stage or facing it? because the more adventurous dancers seem to congregate on the left of the stage (the djs left) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
spike1 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Used to do the gymnastics back in the 7ts But always concentrated on the foot work Fast stomper style or smooth style depending on the beat I don't have any trophies like lamberettanic but I do have the same dodgy knees and hamstrings And my acrobatics stay firmly under lock and key!! Love to see guys who can still do the floor work but fir me it has to fit in to the beat Not just a gymnastic show Just my opinion Steve( just getting some more cod liver oil caps) Pike Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
spike1 Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Don't k iw about dance police at Wigan But there was some police who tried to dance ! The loverly police cadets who dressed like they were going to a disco and danced that way too !! Av you got any gear mate?? Eff off !!!! 1 Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest MrC Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Don't k iw about dance police at Wigan But there was some police who tried to dance ! The loverly police cadets who dressed like they were going to a disco and danced that way too !! Av you got any gear mate?? Eff off !!!! Hahaha! I remember them, didn't exactly "blend in" dunno about undercover, but definately in the the dark! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Gene-r Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 (edited) Er, probably the opposite actually LOL Couldn't agree more Pete! Edited October 19, 2011 by Gene-R Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Winnie :-) Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Personally I thought the acrobatics went a bit too far, sometimes is was like watching a gymnastics competition. For me it was all about the feet and the interpretation of the music. I'm sure I recall the "best" dancers right hand side of the stage, do remember one bloke always wore a vest and I'm sure he had longish hair, never stopped! He must have stood out like a sore thumb........... :D Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Get involved with Soul Source
Add your comments now
Join Soul Source
A free & easy soul music affair!
Join Soul Source now!Log in to Soul Source
Jump right back in!
Log in now!