Guest SteveA Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Always wondered...where did the Northern Soul dancing style come from? I guess it wasn't from the States as in the mid 60s, set dances were all the rage, like the Jerk, Boogaloo, Twine, etc. The film clips of 60s Mods show them to be pretty useless at dancing (though I'm just basing that on Ready Steady Go). So who or where was the genesis for what became recognised as Northern dancing? Someone had the theory that it was from the martial arts craze of the early 70s. That might have contributed to it but the Torch, Twisted Wheel & others pre-dated this. Was it one group of people that just became more adventurous with their dancing as the sounds got to 100 mph & it got copied elsewhere? The originators deserve recognition as the dancing is one of the reasons for Northern Soul's iconic status in music. Any theories on this? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Quinvy Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 Always wondered...where did the Northern Soul dancing style come from? I guess it wasn't from the States as in the mid 60s, set dances were all the rage, like the Jerk, Boogaloo, Twine, etc. The film clips of 60s Mods show them to be pretty useless at dancing (though I'm just basing that on Ready Steady Go). So who or where was the genesis for what became recognised as Northern dancing? Someone had the theory that it was from the martial arts craze of the early 70s. That might have contributed to it but the Torch, Twisted Wheel & others pre-dated this. Was it one group of people that just became more adventurous with their dancing as the sounds got to 100 mph & it got copied elsewhere? The originators deserve recognition as the dancing is one of the reasons for Northern Soul's iconic status in music. Any theories on this? I wasn't there, but have read, that it was mainly jewish mods, at the wheel that were the instigators of both dance and fashion. Seems like the Wheel was an awesome place to be in the sixties. Phil. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Bitchdj Posted January 27, 2006 Share Posted January 27, 2006 easy answer..years ago we were all shitfaced ..made a style all of its own...... cookie Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Mak Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 In my younger days circa 68,in the local dance hall called The Regal all the young modettes would dance in a circle and all the lads would stand round the dance floor .After half a dozen watered down Watneys Red Barrell or the odd snake bite the lads gained enough courage to join the birds , it would start with one back drop evolving into two back drops and so on and so forth. Also the backdrops were a trait of the Teddyboy brigade Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Soulsmith Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Also the backdrops were a trait of the Teddyboy brigade Best keep that quiet Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
tone5446 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 It could have evolved from imitating the sort of steps that some of the soul groups who visited the UK in the 60s did on stage, as dance routines were the norm for these groups. The "northern dance" has evolved over the years, the way we danced at the Torch was a lot more simple than the way we dance now. (apart from the acrobatics which are less common now, thank gawd!) with less fancy footwork. It's really a development of stepping side to side on the beat, the way you might do when not actually dancing, but just sort of swaying. Someone once told me that the style came from seeing a dance that Alvin Cash and the Crawlers did on stage whilst on a visit to the UK. The backdrops and the like were certainly part of the US soul group' repertoire, I've seen film of the Flamingoes backdropping and my mate Terry said that when he saw Philip Mitchell in the early 70s he did a few of them. Tony Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Billywhizz Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 easy answer..years ago we were all shitfaced ..made a style all of its own...... cookie I agree with you on that one,young lady Billy Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest espo Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Anyone ever come across footage of the Williams Bros--- Only ever seen one clip of them from a 1930s black and white film----Backdrops /splits /spins the lot------incredible dancers----the earliest dancing ive ever seen that has lots of similarities to the "northern Soul" style Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 It could have evolved from imitating the sort of steps that some of the soul groups who visited the UK in the 60s did on stage, as dance routines were the norm for these groups. The "northern dance" has evolved over the years, the way we danced at the Torch was a lot more simple than the way we dance now. (apart from the acrobatics which are less common now, thank gawd!) with less fancy footwork. It's really a development of stepping side to side on the beat, the way you might do when not actually dancing, but just sort of swaying. Someone once told me that the style came from seeing a dance that Alvin Cash and the Crawlers did on stage whilst on a visit to the UK. The backdrops and the like were certainly part of the US soul group' repertoire, I've seen film of the Flamingoes backdropping and my mate Terry said that when he saw Philip Mitchell in the early 70s he did a few of them. Tony Probably right but they probably got a lot from the old Jazz dancers. Seen footage of them and christ can they move Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest espo Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Probably the same footage im thinking of Chalky-----Amazing stuff Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 (edited) Probably the same footage im thinking of Chalky-----Amazing stuff Absolutely Aren't there two brothers (?) who were particularly good Was sometime ago, watched it on the history channel. Edited January 28, 2006 by chalky Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest espo Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Yeah thats right ----------jumping over each other to do the splits going up and down a flight of stairs was one of their things--------brilliant Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest ZTSC Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Watch me about 11 o'clock tonight . Last Piercebridge - went to the bar for two pints , walked across the dance floor , put the pints down - along comes Harry with 1st prize for winning the dancing competition ! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Watch me about 11 o'clock tonight . Last Piercebridge - went to the bar for two pints , walked across the dance floor , put the pints down - along comes Harry with 1st prize for winning the dancing competition ! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest ZTSC Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Chymes tonight mate Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Chalky Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 (edited) Chymes tonight mate which one The Beginning Of My life? I'll dig it out. Edited January 28, 2006 by chalky Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest ZTSC Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 which one The Beginning Of My life? I'll dig it out. Cheers Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Ted Massey Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Ready Steady Go used to use b/w footage of a dance competion with Wilson Pickett land of a 1000 dances go whoe guys go even the fat ones so it always gave me hope Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Larsc Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Did it start here? : https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/frankie_manning.mov https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/spirit_moves_3.mov https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/spirit_moves_part3.mov This one's cool: https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/cab_calloway.mov Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Soulsmith Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Did it start here? : https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/frankie_manning.mov https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/spirit_moves_3.mov https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/spirit_moves_part3.mov This one's cool: https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/cab_calloway.mov Nice work, where did you get them? Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
vnicepce Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Did it start here? :https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/frankie_manning.mov This one's cool: https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/cab_calloway.mov -thanks very much, this is brilliant!-the bloke in the first one seems to be doing the 'skate'.....I recall, and have on video, a programme about Sam Cooke, and the Gospel Circuit; there was some real rave-up dancing in that, filmed in a Church...thanks again Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Larsc Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Nice work, where did you get them? Found them while looking for info on the lindy hop. It's a swing thing. https://www.swingdanceshop.com/viewquicvid.html Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest sydney bridge Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Did it start here? : https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/frankie_manning.mov https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/spirit_moves_3.mov https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/spirit_moves_part3.mov This one's cool: https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/cab_calloway.mov Thanks Lars ,not forgetting The Nicholas Brothers in the film Stormy Wheather 1943. featuring Lena Horn.A must. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Larsc Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Thanks Lars ,not forgetting The Nicholas Brothers in the film Stormy Wheather 1943. featuring Lena Horn.A must. I'll put it on my shopping list https://www.swingdanceshop.com/stwe19.html along with this Nicholas Brothers dvd: https://www.swingdanceshop.com/nibr.html Another clip: https://www.savoystyle.com/QT/hellzapoppin.mov Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Wow! That must have been some gear. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
tone5446 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 You may like to know that the last of the Nicholas Bros, Feyard? died this week aged 90ish Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Winnie :-) Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 You may like to know that the last of the Nicholas Bros, Feyard? died this week aged 90ish ========== The Nicholas brothers were absolutely fantastic I'm sure I read somewhere or other that the style of dancing evolved from chain gangs. Something about them competing against each other whilst standing on rails (railway lines) seeing who could outdo who. Anybody confirm? Or was it all just a dream? Winnie:-) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest rachel Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 ========== The Nicholas brothers were absolutely fantastic I'm sure I read somewhere or other that the style of dancing evolved from chain gangs. Something about them competing against each other whilst standing on rails (railway lines) seeing who could outdo who. Anybody confirm? Or was it all just a dream? Winnie:-) Yep have heard that too. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Youyou Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Dear all, I have already posted the link a while ago, but maybe there are a fey amongst you who haven't seen it yet: https://www.cooloff.net/site/video/index.html Best regads YouYou Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Simsy Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Dear all, I have already posted the link a while ago, but maybe there are a fey amongst you who haven't seen it yet: https://www.cooloff.net/site/video/index.html Best regads YouYou Thank you you you. I guess it wasn't from the States as in the mid 60s, set dances were all the rage, like the Jerk, Boogaloo, Twine, etc. The film clips of 60s Mods show them to be pretty useless at dancing (though I'm just basing that on Ready Steady Go). So who or where was the genesis for what became recognised as Northern dancing? They had a guy on RSG, Patrick I think his name was and he would teach others how to dance. Remember seeing him show them how to do the 'block' to the Newbeats. Good stuff. Bit unfair to say mods are sh*te dancers though. What's the Twine? Someone once told me that the style came from seeing a dance that Alvin Cash and the Crawlers did on stage whilst on a visit to the UK. The backdrops and the like were certainly part of the US soul group' repertoire, I've seen film of the Flamingoes backdropping and my mate Terry said that when he saw Philip Mitchell in the early 70s he did a few of them. Tony Ritson & Russell. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
tone5446 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 I remember doing "the block" when I were a nipper tony Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Always wondered...where did the Northern Soul dancing style come from? I guess it wasn't from the States as in the mid 60s, set dances were all the rage, like the Jerk, Boogaloo, Twine, etc. The film clips of 60s Mods show them to be pretty useless at dancing (though I'm just basing that on Ready Steady Go). So who or where was the genesis for what became recognised as Northern dancing? Someone had the theory that it was from the martial arts craze of the early 70s. That might have contributed to it but the Torch, Twisted Wheel & others pre-dated this. Was it one group of people that just became more adventurous with their dancing as the sounds got to 100 mph & it got copied elsewhere? The originators deserve recognition as the dancing is one of the reasons for Northern Soul's iconic status in music. Any theories on this? A Right "Little" Bloke Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest musicden786 Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 Always wondered...where did the Northern Soul dancing style come from? I guess it wasn't from the States as in the mid 60s, set dances were all the rage, like the Jerk, Boogaloo, Twine, etc. The film clips of 60s Mods show them to be pretty useless at dancing (though I'm just basing that on Ready Steady Go). So who or where was the genesis for what became recognised as Northern dancing? Someone had the theory that it was from the martial arts craze of the early 70s. That might have contributed to it but the Torch, Twisted Wheel & others pre-dated this. Was it one group of people that just became more adventurous with their dancing as the sounds got to 100 mph & it got copied elsewhere? The originators deserve recognition as the dancing is one of the reasons for Northern Soul's iconic status in music. Any theories on this? Good topic. Hope this helps. In the very early days, before the Wheel and the Torch, Mods and Rock and Roll dancers had a facination for the dancing technique of Harold and Fayard Nicholas. A little latter their attention focused on the exploits of Gregory Hines. Its possible that, attempts to copy these three people made a considerable contribution to the development of Northern Soul Dancing as we know it today. Denis. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
John Elias Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 ========== The Nicholas brothers were absolutely fantastic I'm sure I read somewhere or other that the style of dancing evolved from chain gangs. Something about them competing against each other whilst standing on rails (railway lines) seeing who could outdo who. Anybody confirm? Or was it all just a dream? Winnie:-) Dead right about the chain gangs,apparently the sideways style was perfected as they ddin't have a lot of space to move! Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 This guy is good... https://www.youtube.com/w/northern-soul?v=3...northern%20soul https://www.youtube.com/w/northern-soul-2?v...northern%20soul (sorry if this has been posted before...) Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Sean Hampsey Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 The answer to your Question (as far as The Northern soul Scene is concerned) is.... The diminutive Matchie (from Rotherham). Some 35+ years ago we used to stand in awe of him as he acrobatically controlled the dancefloor at my local club. He brought the steps back from the Wheel (some said) but I believe he introduced the style in the first place. Girls Girls Girls (Chuck Jackson) and Girls Are Out To Get You (Fascinations) were his theme tunes... and boy did he 'perform' them. Never seen a better dancer since. Matchie Invented Northern Soul Dancing. Nuff said. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest ShaneH Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 The answer to your Question (as far as The Northern soul Scene is concerned) is.... The diminutive Matchie (from Rotherham). Some 35+ years ago we used to stand in awe of him as he acrobatically controlled the dancefloor at my local club. He brought the steps back from the Wheel (some said) but I believe he introduced the style in the first place. Girls Girls Girls (Chuck Jackson) and Girls Are Out To Get You (Fascinations) were his theme tunes... and boy did he 'perform' them. Never seen a better dancer since. Matchie Invented Northern Soul Dancing. Nuff said. heard lots of good things about matchie's dancing. the little fella can still be seen out and about every week. Shane Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 (edited) The answer to your Question (as far as The Northern soul Scene is concerned) is.... The diminutive Matchie (from Rotherham). Some 35+ years ago we used to stand in awe of him as he acrobatically controlled the dancefloor at my local club. He brought the steps back from the Wheel (some said) but I believe he introduced the style in the first place. Girls Girls Girls (Chuck Jackson) and Girls Are Out To Get You (Fascinations) were his theme tunes... and boy did he 'perform' them. Never seen a better dancer since. Matchie Invented Northern Soul Dancing. Nuff said. Played girls girls girls last time i played out at the 100club,pity matchie wasnt there ,anyway i was the best dancer in Rotherham matchie`s more worksop.............. Edited February 7, 2006 by ken Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Billywhizz Posted February 7, 2006 Share Posted February 7, 2006 The answer to your Question (as far as The Northern soul Scene is concerned) is.... The diminutive Matchie (from Rotherham). Some 35+ years ago we used to stand in awe of him as he acrobatically controlled the dancefloor at my local club. He brought the steps back from the Wheel (some said) but I believe he introduced the style in the first place. Girls Girls Girls (Chuck Jackson) and Girls Are Out To Get You (Fascinations) were his theme tunes... and boy did he 'perform' them. Never seen a better dancer since. Matchie Invented Northern Soul Dancing. Nuff said. See matchie at the early Wigan days,very very good,but not tops in my opinion The Whizz Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 Anyone ever come across footage of the Williams Bros--- Only ever seen one clip of them from a 1930s black and white film----Backdrops /splits /spins the lot------incredible dancers----the earliest dancing ive ever seen that has lots of similarities to the "northern Soul" style They were incredible dancers indeed. There were a lot of dance crazes during the 60's too such as the skate which are similar to some dance moves I see out and about. Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Geordiejohnson Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 (edited) The answer to your Question (as far as The Northern soul Scene is concerned) is.... The diminutive Matchie (from Rotherham). Some 35+ years ago we used to stand in awe of him as he acrobatically controlled the dancefloor at my local club. He brought the steps back from the Wheel (some said) but I believe he introduced the style in the first place. Girls Girls Girls (Chuck Jackson) and Girls Are Out To Get You (Fascinations) were his theme tunes... and boy did he 'perform' them. Never seen a better dancer since. Matchie Invented Northern Soul Dancing. Nuff said. Reply Nah...years ago in my education days i did music for my sins (and played an instrument...another story) and one of the things we covered over a period of 4 years was the history of popular music ....there was also a very long documentary charting its evolution upto that time 1974..we watched old clips from cellar clubs of the ghettos of detroit etc and guys were dancing in the 60's very much like many Northern Dancers of the 70's, the acrobatics and all ...(some borrowed off the rock and roll scene dancing flips etc).....I think no one really invented it, it just evolved along with the music with people copying/being influenced by great dancers of the days such as the Nicholas Bros, but with less space to dance the moves became more restricted and slick for the dance floor. However i never saw on film or didn't mentally register girls of the 60's dancing as the soul girls did in the 70's ...so who inveted that style....over to you girls for action. Geeeoooordie Edited February 8, 2006 by geordiejohnson Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 8, 2006 Share Posted February 8, 2006 I thought all this dancing is much earlier than rock & roll,have you some of them ealy jazz & bebob,with all that big band stiff,and r&b as been around for 90years,making rock and roll a poor 4th...... Link to comment Social source share More sharing options...
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