Dancing In Trainers

[Patto]

It seems to be a trend at the moment to see a lot of dancers wearing trainers.Mostly its the younger guys.It puzzles me surely they are too grippy to dance easily in or are there particular brands that have smoother soles.Can anyone who uses trainers comment on why they prefere Trainers and how they perform on untalced floors.

[Steve S 60]

My current footwear of choice are Adidas Sambas, which suits my style of dancing as I prefer a bit of grip.  Back in the 70's I used to wear Adidas Kicks, which were very similar, so I don't think there's anything new there.  Can be quite sticky on the floor at the start of the night but once the floor gets scuffed up a bit they're ideal.  Hate talc on the floor, and people who go around with a bottle of the stuff like some industrial crop sprayer are a pain in the arse.  Keep it to your own patch if you're going to use it, don't cover the whole dance floor.  Or better still, wear slippery shoes.  Incidentally, saw somebody out the other week with a bottle of talc labelled up as "Northern Soul Talc".  Wonder how much the mug paid for that.

[Zed1]

Probably the extra grip trainers offer due to all the people who cant seem to constuct the most basic of 2-Step Northern Soul dances  without having a 2" deep carpet of foot odour products for a 30 foot radius around them on the dancefloor.

Edited September 21, 2014 by Zed1

[Peter99]

It seems to be a trend at the moment to see a lot of dancers wearing trainers.Mostly its the younger guys.It puzzles me surely they are too grippy to dance easily in or are there particular brands that have smoother soles.Can anyone who uses trainers comment on why they prefere Trainers and how they perform on untalced floors.

Whatever happened to Polyveldts? 

 

Just joking - they were shite. IMO.

 

Peter

[Simsy]

Brogues or loafers.

[dedji1955]

Yes a lot of folks are dancing in trainers, whilst I cant get my head around dancing in anything other than leather soles some of the dancers using them are top dancers

Regarding Talc one of my pet hates the amount being used and on floors where there is no need for it is getting ridiculous and yet the folks using trainers manage without Talc 

[Frankie Crocker]

Trainers are for prancing. Shoes are for dancing. 

[Patto]

Over the years i have used Brogues,and Hush Puppy/Padders type shoes,but never considered trainers.I imagine the extra grip could be fine for the acrobats but must play havoc on the knees and calfs.Must say after many years i have still not found the ideal type shoe yet but if the record grabs you you can dance in OWT i guess

[Russ Vickers]

Always wear trainers, have no problems at all..

 

Russ

[Frankie Crocker]

Hiya Patto. You really must stop going to Jazz evenings at The 100 Club... Trainers are OK with cord trousers and baggy round neck pullovers, especially when the dance floor is soaked with beer and all the blokes dance like Mick Jagger on stage.

[kevinsoulman]

MY LEATHER SOLED SHOES WERE IN DOCK RECENTLY WORE MY TRAINERS INSTEAD AND  ENDED UP TAKING EM OFF AND DANCING IN MY SOCKS

 

KEV

[Guest Carl Dixon]

Well, at The O' Jays on Friday at the O2 , the dance floor was caked with spilt drinks from the night before. Sticky and unprofessional. Even my sliders had issues...but, I managed a few decent steps. Sadly I need comfort these days and I wear some smart 'white stuff' sneakers that give a nice feel on the floor and should the talc brigade pepper where I dance, they save my back from breaking if I misjudge something. 

[dedji1955]

Comos and Royals where the only shoes I ever used to dance in back in the day.. I would love to come across an original pair of Comos

I still have an original pair of Ikon Solatio shoes but find them a bit heavy and always use brogues

[hullsoul]

Patto

More times then not I'd go with a descent soled shoe but have shook a wicked hoof in a trainer or desert wellie type in my day without major problems.What I would say is over the years dancing at varied size "do's" with not always room to get on the actual dancing surface I've found a preference to throwing a few shapes on the surrounding carpet?Found I get the grip I need for the odd sharp turn but also allows a bit of slide when needed,said carpet is certainly not trainer friendly I've found?

Cheers

Martyn

[Guest Carl Dixon]

I must admit, my new dancers at Prestatyn wore one of my toes out, so I had to use Crocs ha ha! Even I couldn't believe it...but I needed to dance so took the risk. Somebody asked me for my autograph, so I asked them why, and they said bravery.

[Wicked]

Comos and Royals where the only shoes I ever used to dance in back in the day.. I would love to come across an original pair of Comos

I still have an original pair of Ikon Solatio shoes but find them a bit heavy and always use brogues

I'd love to find some comos, I've been looking for years. I know someone who found a brand new, still in the box pair in a charity shop back in the 80's, my size too, the lucky sod.

[Zed1]

Comos and Royals where the only shoes I ever used to dance in back in the day.. I would love to come across an original pair of Comos

I still have an original pair of Ikon Solatio shoes but find them a bit heavy and always use brogues

 

Used to always go to Wigan in a pair of Como's along with a pair of Samba 3 stripes in my bag, and would change depending how the floor felt.

[Patto]

Patto

More times then not I'd go with a descent soled shoe but have shook a wicked hoof in a trainer or desert wellie type in my day without major problems.What I would say is over the years dancing at varied size "do's" with not always room to get on the actual dancing surface I've found a preference to throwing a few shapes on the surrounding carpet?Found I get the grip I need for the odd sharp turn but also allows a bit of slide when needed,said carpet is certainly not trainer friendly I've found?

Cheers

Martyn

Nice one Martyn the WICKED HOOF step sounds impressive

[hullsoul]

Nice one Martyn the WICKED HOOF step sounds impressive

Patto

Unfortunately these days it's more like a prancing trotter   

Cheers

Martyn

[Hornet]

Leather soles 4 me !! Would rather wear crocs than trainers !!

[Guest Carl Dixon]

But I always thought the leather wore out very quickly? Crocs are so comfortable..but just a little too high. You could easily twist your ankle.

[Hornet]

All the snappy dancers wear crocs 

[Guest Carl Dixon]

It was strange when I first put them on and went on the dance floor, I was the only one on there as it was early. So I was extremely conscious that I could damage my dancing reputation with them, but most people, once they stopped taking the p*** actually said it was a good idea. Next day. no less than 8 other people had them on!

[Soulstu]

I guess crocs could be the new polyveldts then Carl!

I'll get myself a pair now then hang on to them and sell them as a pair of '2014 originals' when I retire.

However if they don't take off I'll be able to use them to pop out to the bin when it's raining. Either way it's a win/win.

 

I'm a 'slider' meself - I guess if you're more of a stepper/walker then trainer's'll do it for you. Shame they look so crap. 

Edited September 21, 2014 by SoulStu

[Slim Jim]

Every house in the country should have at least one pair of shiny brogues .

 

Any political party who made this policy would easily be voted into Parliament .  

[Winsford Soul]

Comos and Royals where the only shoes I ever used to dance in back in the day.. I would love to come across an original pair of Comos

I still have an original pair of Ikon Solatio shoes but find them a bit heavy and always use brogues

Frank Wright's where I believe the original comos. Used to have a pair when I was at secondary school they like all school shoes got wrecked. Bought some royal brogues in about 1978, still got them, knackered now but can't bear to throw them out. I do remember the last time I got them soled and heeled that it cost me way more than the £17 that the shoes cost me originally.

Steve

[grouse]

Whatever happened to Polyveldts? 

 

Just joking - they were shite. IMO.

 

Peter

https://www.asos.com/Clarks-Originals/Clarks-Originals-Oberon-Leather-Lace-Up-Shoes/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=905742&r=2

 

I preferred 'nature treks'

 

Polyveldts were for girls, although I bought a pair about 5 years ago and they are the best city walking shoes I've ever had. They must have clocked up several hundred miles of walking and are still going strong. I should have bought a few pairs when I had the chance.

Edited September 21, 2014 by grouse

[Peter99]

https://www.asos.com/Clarks-Originals/Clarks-Originals-Oberon-Leather-Lace-Up-Shoes/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=905742&r=2

 

I preferred 'nature treks'

 

Polyveldts were for girls, although I bought a pair about 5 years ago and they are the best city walking shoes I've ever had. They must have clocked up several hundred miles of walking and are still going strong. I should have bought a few pairs when I had the chance.

And everyone used to think they were cool! Only had the one pair mesen and then thankfully the dress code moved forward a bit. I better add - imo, or I'll have some die hard lot wanting to lynch me by me shoe laces.   

 

Pedro

[Mark S]

Bloody hell I struggle to dance in time let alone dance in trainers

[Guest Dave Ward]

I tried all sorts of shoes. Got to be lace ups for a start, I bought a really cheap pair from Clarkes on the advice of a good dancer, soft crepey soles, light weight, I cut the heels off with a hacksaw, polished them 'till they shone and never wore them on the street. The key is weight, a pair of leather soled brogues weigh 600g x 100 steps a minute x 5 hours = 1.8 tonnes. And anyway trainers look shit.

[Guest]

Dancing in "Trainers"  - Always makes me smile -
 
Put your shorts & your football shirt on we can have a "kick about "after the do 
 
You can wear what you want - and dance "While we still can"
 
BUT DON T EVER LET ME SEE YOU "BALLROOM " DANCING 
at a "Northern Soul " event - Kin outrageous      

 

 
Ninja

 

 

 

https://youtu.be/D_mEJMmQj6Y?list=FLrVlwY5lgN4PkmibNyvGpnw

Edited September 21, 2014 by ninja

[Guest]

https://youtu.be/D_mEJMmQj6Y?list=FLrVlwY5lgN4PkmibNyvGpnw

[Guest Bearsy]

It's not no where near as hard to dance in trainers as it is to dance with your head stuck up your arse that's for sure 

[Guest Dave Ward]

Put your shorts & your football shirt on we can have a "kick about "after

I have done that, once got so pissed off with a DJ at a 'nighter that I walked outside to join 10 lads (and 2 DJ's) playing football on the car park, it was snowing as well. I want to be 17 again !!!

[Guest Byrney]

Always wore trainers, just pick the right ones with a smoother sole like adidas munchen or trim trabs.

Edited September 22, 2014 by Byrney

[Guest Carl Dixon]

Stu - the crocs could become very fashionable AND extremely collectable over the years. We could trade them for crocs not available anymore and buy those little badge things and stick through the holes on the front. We could get the badges made in the shape of records...can you imagine! Dancing in comfort with your favourite label badge just inches away from your favourite dance steps. No polishing necessary! I would have 'Mojo' on the left foot and probably 'Bandtraxs' (my own label) on my right as I need to advertise my releases in a novel and unique way these days. 

[Guest in town Mikey]

I have to wear slippers cos my

 

shoes - keep on walking on back to her

 

[Steve S 60]

I can remember when bowling shoes were de rigueur.  Just wear an old pair of flip flops to the bowling alley and come out with a pair of leather two tone bowling shoes.

[Markw]

It's not no where near as hard to dance in trainers as it is to dance with your head stuck up your arse that's for sure 

Thought you would wade into this debate at some point.....................

[Chas]

Clark's "commando's"real sensible footwear, animal tracks on the sole and the added bonus of a compass in the heel..just the job for getting down.

[Guest Bearsy]

Thought you would wade into this debate at some point.....................

 

Ive danced in flop flops at one of Alfie's alldayers before its not what you wear its how you move to the groove baby 

 

I have been known to wear shoes before but some dance floors are far too slippery for me so trainers (adidas gazelles) suit me fine 

[ImberBoy]

Edited September 22, 2014 by ImberBoy

[Jnixon]

Whatever happened to Polyveldts? 

 

Just joking - they were shite. IMO.

 

Peter

 

they are the most ugly looking shoes know to man. i thought only geography and history teachers wore those.

[Stevie T]

A pointed toe Cuban heel for me every time 

[steve s]

Patto

More times then not I'd go with a descent soled shoe but have shook a wicked hoof in a trainer or desert wellie type in my day without major problems.What I would say is over the years dancing at varied size "do's" with not always room to get on the actual dancing surface I've found a preference to throwing a few shapes on the surrounding carpet?Found I get the grip I need for the odd sharp turn but also allows a bit of slide when needed,said carpet is certainly not trainer friendly I've found?

Cheers

Martyn

Martyn

Are these your black trainers or your more special brown ones?

I know that you have only ever had one pair of trainers.

Steve

[Steve S 60]

ADI39_400_1.jpg

 

Even the name says "Dance".

[Markw]

Ive danced in flop flops at one of Alfie's alldayers before its not what you wear its how you move to the groove baby 

 

 

Flop flops? Is that 2 lefts or 2 rights?

[ImberBoy]

I saw these in Meadowhall and my heart leapt like a salmon! I went into the shop to buy them only to learn they were only available in bird’s sizes which is like totally illegal or summit and sexist against Jazz Funk and cool boys like me! 

These shoes were the coolest fookin thing on the dance floor and I have now taken to bandaging my feet up on a night time like them Japanese birds so I can like fit into them and ting

Edited September 22, 2014 by ImberBoy

[Winnie :-)]

ADI39_400_1.jpg

Along side Simon, plenty of other good dancers from, or about our generation wear trainers to dance in, Bob Lee, Mark Johnson, Andy Cannon to name but another three. Youngsters like James Whitehead and Dave Stabler, do everything in trainers that dancers from our time would have longed to do.

My own preference is for leather soled Loakes, but I did wear gazelles for the first time during the afternoon shifts of the Skegness weekender just gone. Didn't dance a lot, as was saving myself for the nights, but when I did, they were absolutely fine, didn't stick to the floor and no extra friction when spinning. 

[Guest Bearsy]

Flop flops? Is that 2 lefts or 2 rights?

Lefts as I also have a pair of flip flips that are rights