Acrobatics

[good angel]

Just thinking the other night, when did the acrobatic dancing start?

Was it a 60s thing from the Mod era.

I just manage the odd shuffle never been able to do any acrobatics.

Atb.Kev.

[Guest in town Mikey]

I belive Jethro slipped on some spilt mild at the Cats one night. Did a cartwheel so as not to get his shirt dirty, and got a standing ovation.....

Or that could be a load of pony :-)

[Guest Matt Male]

I don't know when it started, but I can't imagine mods doing accro, seems to be associated with vests and baggies and the fashion for kung-fu movies in the 70s? Having said all that David Ruffin does the splits during performances in the 60s, maybe they copied him?

[Bazza]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6S__6GAOn4

have a look at this not sure of the date but got to be very early sixties

Bazza

[Winnie :-)]

I don't know when it started, but I can't imagine mods doing accro, seems to be associated with vests and baggies and the fashion for kung-fu movies in the 70s? Having said all that David Ruffin does the splits during performances in the 60s, maybe they copied him?

James Brown and Jackie Wilson also. I'm sure I read an article somewhere that linked it with slave moves when they were laying railways, something about trying to outdo one another, it was then taken up by various soul artists and then copied by dancers at the wheel

[Munchkin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6S__6GAOn4

have a look at this not sure of the date but got to be very early sixties

Bazza

tommy hunt doing a great job, second dancer.....

[boba]

James Brown and Jackie Wilson also. I'm sure I read an article somewhere that linked it with slave moves when they were laying railways, something about trying to outdo one another, it was then taken up by various soul artists and then copied by dancers at the wheel

I have no idea about the source of the northern soul acrobatics, but there were a million JB and Jackie Wilson imitators who did similar dancing. Many "review" type acts had a James Brown guy in the review who would open the show or dance during the show.

[Crumb]

Didn't it start after Alvin Cash & the Crawlers appeared at the Wheel? That's what my mate who went from 67 on told me, not sure if he's going from memory or what it says in the Twisted Wheel book.

[good angel]

Didn't it start after Alvin Cash & the Crawlers appeared at the Wheel? That's what my mate who went from 67 on told me, not sure if he's going from memory or what it says in the Twisted Wheel book.

I will have get my books out again.

Kev.

[Dylan]

_{jazz dancing in the 50s was very acrobatic at times so was the the starting point ?}

[Guest lambrettanik]

a lot of the older dancers(and i tend to agree)say the acrobatics just didnt happen they evolved,from the wheel era with spins,backdrops splits,dancers got ideas from the likes of jackie wilson,james brown etc along with the nicholas brothers,from tv and live performance,then in the 70s a few other moves got adopted-pin wheel,handstands,front drops,high kicks,the spins got more exagerated.and then in the 80s more "ground work" emerged with similar moves to break dancers with "swipes","flails" shoulder springs,one handed hand stands,towards the 90s these moves became less prolific with the post stafford era as the tunes got slower.the acrobatics orginally were done during 100mph records with an instrumental break in it,as a way of filling in and if done properley to the right record looks spectacular.

[jocko]

a lot of the older dancers(and i tend to agree)say the acrobatics just didnt happen they evolved,from the wheel era with spins,backdrops splits,dancers got ideas from the likes of jackie wilson,james brown etc along with the nicholas brothers,from tv and live performance,then in the 70s a few other moves got adopted-pin wheel,handstands,front drops,high kicks,the spins got more exagerated.and then in the 80s more "ground work" emerged with similar moves to break dancers with "swipes","flails" shoulder springs,one handed hand stands,towards the 90s these moves became less prolific with the post stafford era as the tunes got slower.the acrobatics orginally were done during 100mph records with an instrumental break in it,as a way of filling in and if done properley to the right record looks spectacular.

Interesting timelines, you may want to check your diary or we were at very different events and different time zones.

Most of the floorwork in the 80's was avoiding Butch throwing a Socialist Worker at someone or avoiding Pete Lawson throwing a wobbly.

Happy to be corrected of course, with evidence!

I love how everyone, again, ignores Bob with good factual stuff about the artists!

[Guest lambrettanik]

=

Interesting timelines, you may want to check your diary or we were at very different events and different time zones.

Most of the floorwork in the 80's was avoiding Butch throwing a Socialist Worker at someone or avoiding Pete Lawson throwing a wobbly.

Happy to be corrected of course, with evidence!

I love how everyone, again, ignores Bob with good factual stuff about the artists!

just saying it how i remember it as did others older than me,so my time travelin wickiepedia friend put the rest of us with clouded memories straight with your crystal clear accounts of how and were the acrobatics evolved were all waiting with baited breath and note pads!

[jocko]

=just saying it how i remember it as did others older than me,so my time travelin wickiepedia friend put the rest of us with clouded memories straight with your crystal clear accounts of how and were the acrobatics evolved were all waiting with baited breath and note pads!

If you read it carefully, vey closely, you will see I gave a clue with the red highlighter in your comments, as well as some some contextual comments in mine, I was talking about your 80's comments, not about the overall history.

But just to spell it out, my comment was all about one handed handstands weren't that common where I went in the 80's, that was my gist, but then again neither were acrobatics generally in those days. And I suppose neither were regular punters, but thats another thread.....

[Guest lambrettanik]

If you read it carefully, vey closely, you will see I gave a clue with the red highlighter in your comments, as well as some some contextual comments in mine, I was talking about your 80's comments, not about the overall history.

But just to spell it out, my comment was all about one handed handstands weren't that common where I went in the 80's, that was my gist, but then again neither were acrobatics generally in those days. And I suppose neither were regular punters, but thats another thread.....

ive read it carefully and very closely and and just to spell it out to you thats how me and my freinds remember it-the 80s was ten years long!!! and i only recall seein more of the b-boy moves around 87(1 handed handstands etc) and yes the acrobatics werent the norm only a few people did em,but as for nailing down who did what were n when and at what exact tme is getting a bit picky,now instead of trying to turn this thread into a heated debate by hi lighting my post,and implying i should be able to recall exact points in soul history,i think most forum users would rather you put your memories of the subject to help answer this persons orginal post,than scrutinise my post

[Wiggyflat]

I was told by an oldtimer it started with copying the artists dancing....Major Lance and Sam And Dave's backdrops,Jackie Wilson's spins.Same as adopting the one leather black driving glove and the "northern soul fist".All American influenced.The acrobatics seem to have gone through different phases and styles from backdrops to handstands/russian rolls/ fast shuffling (Edwin Starr's Time.....wispy moustaches/wedges/peg trousers),knee drops and the balletic style on to throwing shapes Cleethorpes style (Oscar Romp still dances like this).The only acrobatics I see now are the Keb clones.Mr Sadot on here was known to bust a few moves.Remember him with hair at The Ritz hand springing (Caporeira style).Here's some footage from The Electric Ballroom London of the fusion dancers...not really northern style but a capsule of what dancing was going on outside the northern scene in 81 and there were a few people who did both especially in he north "Brothers in Jazz" who used to attend northern alldayers.

Edited December 5, 2011 by wiggyflat

[Guest lambrettanik]

I was told by an oldtimer it started with copying the artists dancing....Major Lance and Sam And Dave's backdrops,Jackie Wilson's spins.Same as adopting the one leather black driving glove and the "northern soul fist".All American influenced.The acrobatics seem to have gone through different phases and styles from backdrops to handstands/russian rolls/ fast shuffling (Edwin Starr's Time.....wispy moustaches/wedges/peg trousers),knee drops and the balletic style on to throwing shapes Cleethorpes style (Oscar Romp still dances like this).The only acrobatics I see now are the Keb clones.Mr Sadot on here was known to bust a few moves.Remember him with hair at The Ritz hand springing (Caporeira style).Here's some footage from The Electric Ballroom London of the fusion dancers...not really northern style but a capsule of what dancing was going on outside the northern scene in 81 and there were a few people who did both especially in he north "Brothers in Jazz" who used to attend northern alldayers.

spot on kerrching!!!!!,what a fantastic piece of film footage

[Wiggyflat]

First phase of Cleethorpes....good footage but they are dancing like Bionic men.Spins and backdrops.Wouldn't mind seeing it cleaned up and the right speed.There's some tv footage with some dancers on I have on video somewhere of 3 dancers from there doing balletic/russian rolls etc to The Champion (from early eighties)but I can't find it on youtube.Richard Searling,John Vincent and he shall not be named get interviewed a well.

At 5.05 I remember this style of dancing very well.....includes a swallow dive, backdrop into half splits.Would put money on him being a northern dancer.Keb is in part 3 a few years before newies and Stafford. https://www.youtube.com/user/discoreview#p/a/u/1/dgjc-6L0Wm4 Edited December 6, 2011 by wiggyflat

[Dave Moore]

Surely the acrobatics stem from the performances of the black music artists in the States? JW, JB were probably the first ones to have UK exposure but the acrobatic dancing to black music goes waaaay back to reels and jigs on the plantations. Thing is when you're a young teenager in the North of England rammed into a old ballroom, you tend to imagine that you've invented it all. That's only natural. A quick search around the internet would blow that theory out of the water. This second clip is from 1894!! Even JW had to have some starting point! :thumbup:

Regards,

Dave

https://youtu.be/0zu0dmom4og

https://youtu.be/2rnC-3-6e4Q

[Guest lambrettanik]

Surely the acrobatics stem from the performances of the black music artists in the States? JW, JB were probably the first ones to have UK exposure but the acrobatic dancing to black music goes waaaay back to reels and jigs on the plantations. Thing is when you're a young teenager in the North of England rammed into a old ballroom, you tend to imagine that you've invented it all. That's only natural. A quick search around the internet would blow that theory out of the water. This second clip is from 1894!! Even JW had to have some starting point! :thumbup:

Regards,

Dave

https://youtu.be/2rnC-3-6e4Q

pardon the pun but i do think you have found the roots of the acrobatics in the northern,jazz,lindy,rock n roll etc with that grainy footage from the 1800s 10/10 for the research.find it hard to comprehend its really that old?.

[Guest allnightandy]

This is still my favourite doctored dance clip

preformed by Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in 1941

Enjoy

[boba]

he didn't pose at the end!

[Guest]

I did gymnastic moves because I could. I'd not seen anyone else do them when I started; it was just because I could and it fitted the music.

[Ceejay]

.

Edited December 15, 2011 by Carol J

[Ceejay]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6S__6GAOn4

have a look at this not sure of the date but got to be very early sixties

Bazza

Too late..............would say this would be mid-fifties...........brilliant stuff!!!

[Shsdave]

This is still my favourite doctored dance clip

preformed by Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in 1941

Enjoy

From the film Hellzapoppin & considered to be the greatest Lindy Hop dance routine ever filmed. Forget all the doctored versions search for Hellzapoppin Lindy Hop & watch/hear it as it was meant to be, absolutely brilliant

[Guest soul elite]

I do like to see the acrobatics but I prefer to see good footwork with beautiful moves.Thats how I 'selected' my husband!! haha x

[Chalky]

I do like to see the acrobatics but I prefer to see good footwork with beautiful moves.Thats how I 'selected' my husband!! haha x

I agree with you, much prefer to see some class footwork, acrobats great to watch but in the right places. Haven't time for those who simply throw themselves about the place and I stand there wondering what are they dancing to.

[Guest soul elite]

Thats the thing, they aren't in time very often (if ever).Don't get me wrong, I couldn't do it! I just get hypnotised watching good footwork..

[Simsy]

Didn't it start after Alvin Cash & the Crawlers appeared at the Wheel? That's what my mate who went from 67 on told me, not sure if he's going from memory or what it says in the Twisted Wheel book.

You are right sir!

[Guest lambrettanik]

I agree with you, much prefer to see some class footwork, acrobats great to watch but in the right places. Haven't time for those who simply throw themselves about the place and I stand there wondering what are they dancing to.

hey chalky im agreein with you on this you never know you may come round to my way of thinkin on the talc issue ?

[Naughty Boy]

First phase of Cleethorpes....good footage but they are dancing like Bionic men.Spins and backdrops.Wouldn't mind seeing it cleaned up and the right speed.There's some tv footage with some dancers on I have on video somewhere of 3 dancers from there doing balletic/russian rolls etc to The Champion (from early eighties)but I can't find it on youtube.Richard Searling,John Vincent and he shall not be named get interviewed a well.

At 5.05 I remember this style of dancing very well.....includes a swallow dive, backdrop into half splits.Would put money on him being a northern dancer.Keb is in part 3 a few years before newies and Stafford. https://www.youtube.c...u/1/dgjc-6L0Wm4

Now thats got to be a rare piece of 8mm film indeed inside the pier 75 , dance comp of which i took part i would add ... such a shame thinking back we didnt have video widely available ... there would be some cracking footage of the old venues from back in the day

[Guest turntableterra]

as usual there is more to northern soul than people know about or bother to know about or even want to, its more than just buying the records and telling everyone you went to wigan. reading some previous posts it would appear that some went to a different wigan casino than i did.............dance police, guns, fights, bother with the doormen. i never saw any of that but those lovely toilets, i only went it probaly 4 times ever, up the lane was cleaner LOL and not as wet. IMO. any how i digress...................................

i read a very interesting book ( i think by terry radcliffe, dancing in the street, for a series by the bbc). it discussed the fact that an early form of expressional worship (dancing as we would call it now) was used as an expression of religious praise along with singing or chanting in the ring shouts of south american plantations. groups of african slaves would dance and chant around in a circle with the absence of formal worship centres. this was something the slaves had done as free africans in the home country, prior to transportation to the new world. this emulated the walk around mecca. this was done in an anticlock wise manner and stories would be told about the journies they took and in appreciation of thier religious faith. it was fading out during the civil war as it seemed better to "fit in" but another form of it was carried on through juque joints taking a more "entertainment" role and probably took us to where we are today after a long journey. checkout you tube for early examples of where it extended to and guys like the nicholson brothers were among some of the best..............along came jackie and ole james to kick into the future of soul

break dancing it said began when dancers in US clubs began dancing particularly to the music breaks in records and dj`s made samples purely made up of breaks for this craze.

it is also worth remembering that the group or artist was developed to fit the 45, the 45 was not made to fit round the artist.

checkout the books and do some research of your own it is quite interesting.................to some.

Edited December 21, 2011 by turntableterra