The Greatest Dancer

[Guest]

2 hours ago, paul-s said:

No, not everybody wore them and they were worn (by those who did) only for a brief period. The sad fact is that the historico-pastiche scene goers, (a lot of returnees included in that bracket) try to claim Northern soul past, present and future using this re-imagined look as an identifier/motif  for a scene that spans five decades. The lazy media love to present this clownish look too, as it is easier than historical research and very easily caricatured and ridiculed.  It's the narrow Casino-centric lens being applied once again, as if that was all the scene ever was and will be. The same happens with the music and so called top 500's, World Northern Soul Dance Championships or whatever. It's linked to the industry of Northern Soul, it reifies it for commercial/economic reasons and is not representative of Northern Soul's rich and nuanced history: which includes music, venues, fashion styles, dancing styles and more. 

In Chapter 16 of this book I write about, amongst other things, the Casino-centric lens and its mis-use : https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/northern-soul/  and interestingly enough, I start with an anecdote about playing Jonathan Capree in 2005 at Middleton all-nighter...

As above, in a nutshell!

[Frankie Crocker]

19 hours ago, Tomangoes said:

Back on topic....ish

This is the funniest ' dancer' I've EVER seen.

Ed

 

He’s just mucking around in front of the camera after putting in a bit of serious footwork. The trousers confirm he has a sense of humour and knows a good tailor.

Now the lass in the reddish-orange top is really showing how it can be done

Edited January 8, 2020 by Frankie Crocker
typo

[Chalky]

6 minutes ago, Frankie Crocker said:

He’s just mucking around in front of the camera after putting in a bit of serious footwork. The trousers confirm he has a sense of humour and knows  good tailor.

Now the lass in the reddish-orange top is really showing how it can be done

Dressed like that you need a sense of humour

[Soulman58]

3 hours ago, Hornet said:

Which 1 is he 

 

58 minutes ago, Chalky said:

Is it just me or do a lot of the good dancers look like they are dancing to a different record than the one playing?

I think the fact they seem to have so much room, makes some pose rather than dance to what's playing.

[Tomangoes]

I could watch ? Cameron Diaz all night long....

Need to get to Matlock soon.

Ed

 

[Bruv]

It goes without saying the bbc had to scheme up another cheap tv dancing competition, after flogging strictly come dancing to death! 

[Widnes63]

Although I wouldn't be seen dead dressed like that I can understand why some people do, they wear it like a badge, to make others see what they are part of, like Mods, Punks, Skins, Scooter scene et al, unfortunately the clothing chosen by the soul scene are atrocious, especially the extreme over the top multi pocket, multi badge gear, and as mentioned before this uniform was only around for a short period in time. Each to their own I suppose.

As for our friend Giovani.... he's not good is he ? Although he is having the time of his life the poor chap is delusional if he thinks otherwise. Anybody know his history ? Where is he from ? How long has he  been on "the scene" ?

As mentioned before Northern has gone mainstream whether you like it or not, Zoe Ball played our friend Frank today on the radio and mentioned something about someone having a Northern Soul house party FFS !!!

I would like to throw this in ... Poor old Judd and his ilk got slaughtered on here for filming events, now they are being cherry picked from you tube

to post on here, just sayin' .

Choose your corner.

Ste.

 

[Wiggyflat]

2 hours ago, Widnes63 said:

Although I wouldn't be seen dead dressed like that I can understand why some people do, they wear it like a badge, to make others see what they are part of, like Mods, Punks, Skins, Scooter scene et al, unfortunately the clothing chosen by the soul scene are atrocious, especially the extreme over the top multi pocket, multi badge gear, and as mentioned before this uniform was only around for a short period in time. Each to their own I suppose.

As for our friend Giovani.... he's not good is he ? Although he is having the time of his life the poor chap is delusional if he thinks otherwise. Anybody know his history ? Where is he from ? How long has he  been on "the scene" ?

As mentioned before Northern has gone mainstream whether you like it or not, Zoe Ball played our friend Frank today on the radio and mentioned something about someone having a Northern Soul house party FFS !!!

I would like to throw this in ... Poor old Judd and his ilk got slaughtered on here for filming events, now they are being cherry picked from you tube

to post on here, just sayin' .

Choose your corner.

Ste.

When you are 15!

 

[Wiggyflat]

They used to take it seriously and did some good tv reporting....it's all about the trousers now and not enough emphasis on the music.I am really glad i taped this now.

 

 

Edited January 8, 2020 by wiggyflat

[Len]

8 hours ago, wiggyflat said:

They used to take it seriously and did some good tv reporting....it's all about the trousers now and not enough emphasis on the music.I am really glad i taped this now.

Those few older documentary's such as this one are invaluable to mine and many other's memories - It's a big thanks from me for those.

Len 

[Tomo]

10 hours ago, wiggyflat said:

They used to take it seriously and did some good tv reporting....it's all about the trousers now and not enough emphasis on the music.I am really glad i taped this now.

 

 

Thanks for this post, I have some great memories of Morecambe.  I was there when this was filmed. One of my old mates who I travelled the country with Cliff Dale is on stage dancing at 3.28.

 

Tomo

[Timillustrator]

14 hours ago, Widnes63 said:

Although I wouldn't be seen dead dressed like that I can understand why some people do, they wear it like a badge, to make others see what they are part of, like Mods, Punks, Skins, Scooter scene et al, unfortunately the clothing chosen by the soul scene are atrocious, especially the extreme over the top multi pocket, multi badge gear, and as mentioned before this uniform was only around for a short period in time. Each to their own I suppose.

As for our friend Giovani.... he's not good is he ? Although he is having the time of his life the poor chap is delusional if he thinks otherwise. Anybody know his history ? Where is he from ? How long has he  been on "the scene" ?

As mentioned before Northern has gone mainstream whether you like it or not, Zoe Ball played our friend Frank today on the radio and mentioned something about someone having a Northern Soul house party FFS !!!

I would like to throw this in ... Poor old Judd and his ilk got slaughtered on here for filming events, now they are being cherry picked from you tube

to post on here, just sayin' .

Choose your corner.

Ste.

 

Can't speak for the 50+ returnees but among younger people fashion is totally 'post modern' now, there are no separate cults like there used to be. My son and his friends mix and match from everywhere, 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, today. I know a few younger people on the NS scene too and some do wear bags etc. but at 18 or so they look pretty good in them, they couldn't give a toss what year they came from or if they were in style for long or not. Most of this thread would be totally baffling for them. They've seen people wearing them, they think they look good, they buy some, they wear them.

Of course with older people there's a lot of baggage - nostalgia or not, false sense of recalling the past or not etc. 

[Paul-s]

On 07/01/2020 at 08:57, Rhino said:

I personally think people wanting to dance in old clothes is up to the individual but there seem to be scenes within the scene. Honestly never see to many in the venues I attend. If you don't like it stop going to oldies nights as from what I've seen they look like there enjoying themselves. Different strokes for different folks. Leave them to there memories I'm off to create new ones. Depends on your point of view.... 

Couldn't resist the urge......but within me responding to Rhino's last line with these tracks, I also think the music demonstrates just  a tiny part of the breadth of Northern Soul and there lies the debate. I think it's the claims of authenticity within the scene that are problematic. You can even see it on this thread with people pontificating about 'proper dancing'. I recently tried to have this debate with a woman running an Instagram 'Northern Soul Dance Course', reminding her that she cannot claim to teach 'Northern Soul dancing' but merely her way of dancing to Northern Soul (which is fine and more specific and honest). She deleted my questions/comments because they threatened her income stream. People love to claim authenticity within Northern Soul and it is usually via the Casino-centric lens, be it dancing, music or dress styles. But, I argue that it is a much wider debate/experience and, personally, I resist the dominant projection of  the Casino years as emblematic of the scene. Really it depends on a point of view, but that point of view is bound within the existence/experience of multiple-venues, records, artists, DJ's, dancers and movements and, in recents decades, countries. 

[Soul-slider]

16 hours ago, Widnes63 said:

 

As mentioned before Northern has gone mainstream whether you like it or not, Zoe Ball played our friend Frank today on the radio and mentioned something about someone having a Northern Soul house party FFS !!!

 

 

Yeah, and then a little bit later someone emailed Radio 2 and asked for 'Under My Thumb' and Zoe played the Rolling Stones and said "There's another Northern Soul classic"  bless her.

[Winsford Soul]

In reply to Paul S post. As he rightly says,  you can't teach someone Northern soul dancing.  You either get northern soul or any soul music for that matter and dance to it however the way the music takes you and in a way that you want to express that. You can be taught basic dance steps but afterwards it's all yours. I'm lucky I got it , ( whatever it was I got )  the same as the people who are on here get it, you can't describe it. Hope that makes sense. 

Steve 

[Speedlimit]

The only way you get it is like we did when we first went you stood you watched in awe and felt the rhythm and beat and off you went, and we had floor etiquette you bumped into someone you apologised, now days you get verbal abuse from some quarters. Like most on here I pick and choose which venues I attend with like minded people and steer clear of the money making retro side. As for giovanni bless he tried mind willing body said otherwise. As for radio 2 well 40years+ too late 

[Guest]

On 08/01/2020 at 10:12, David Meikle said:

For Blackpoolsoul

https://youtu.be/j6rDT4qnBHU
 

Lovely!

[Monny1916]

I had a friend Geoff from St. Helens whose wife was a really good dancer,,, she just made it look so effortless,, Stephen 

[Scootboy]

This is another extraordinary performance, the guy really nails it

 

[Zed1]

Watch & Learn. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlTDesrj3Xw

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by Zed1

[Timillustrator]

6 minutes ago, Scootboy said:

This is another extraordinary performance, the guy really nails it

 

Yeah Simon! And he's only been dancing to Northern Soul for about 5 years. He's got it alright.

 

[Scootboy]

OMG, I just realised that the excellent female dancer from the previous video that I posted, makes a positive comment 'that guy was fantastic!!!' to the guy of the second video, now this is a unique coincidence 

[Hornet]

22 hours ago, Widnes63 said:

Although I wouldn't be seen dead dressed like that I can understand why some people do, they wear it like a badge, to make others see what they are part of, like Mods, Punks, Skins, Scooter scene et al, unfortunately the clothing chosen by the soul scene are atrocious, especially the extreme over the top multi pocket, multi badge gear, and as mentioned before this uniform was only around for a short period in time. Each to their own I suppose.

As for our friend Giovani.... he's not good is he ? Although he is having the time of his life the poor chap is delusional if he thinks otherwise. Anybody know his history ? Where is he from ? How long has he  been on "the scene" ?

As mentioned before Northern has gone mainstream whether you like it or not, Zoe Ball played our friend Frank today on the radio and mentioned something about someone having a Northern Soul house party FFS !!!

I would like to throw this in ... Poor old Judd and his ilk got slaughtered on here for filming events, now they are being cherry picked from you tube

to post on here, just sayin' .

Choose your corner.

Ste.

 

Was that the same Judd who ridiculed A casino icon , mmmm

[Soulman58]

6 hours ago, Soul-slider said:

Yeah, and then a little bit later someone emailed Radio 2 and asked for 'Under My Thumb' and Zoe played the Rolling Stones and said "There's another Northern Soul classic"  bless her.

Not quite the case, she played R Stones UMT and someone emailed/text whatever and said it was a NS classic. 

[Soulman58]

4 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

In reply to Paul S post. As he rightly says,  you can't teach someone Northern soul dancing.  You either get northern soul or any soul music for that matter and dance to it however the way the music takes you and in a way that you want to express that. You can be taught basic dance steps but afterwards it's all yours. I'm lucky I got it , ( whatever it was I got )  the same as the people who are on here get it, you can't describe it. Hope that makes sense. 

Steve 

Not sure I agree.  Having seen vids online of the NS film, dance classes.  shows any dance instructor can teach others, obviously those who can dance make it look easier.

[Widnes63]

20 minutes ago, Hornet said:

Was that the same Judd who ridiculed A casino icon , mmmm

Pass … you would have to educate me on that.

I don't have an affinity with Judd, I remember a thread about people being filmed at events and his name was mentioned, I noticed that most of the clips on this thread were his. Just an observation.

Ste.

 

[Chalky]

3 minutes ago, Widnes63 said:

Pass … you would have to educate me on that.

I don't have an affinity with Judd, I remember a thread about people being filmed at events and his name was mentioned, I noticed that most of the clips on this thread were his. Just an observation.

Ste.

 

Don't think it was Judd though who was getting flack, just some of those he filmed.  Decent bloke, filmed at a Lifeline, asked permission etc all before the event.

[Winsford Soul]

11 minutes ago, Soulman58 said:

Not sure I agree.  Having seen vids online of the NS film, dance classes.  shows any dance instructor can teach others, obviously those who can dance make it look easier.

That's what I'm  saying you can be taught dance steps but if you don't get the soul thing , your just a dancer with no soul ,you may as well learn tap dancing or ballet 

[Soulman58]

7 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

That's what I'm  saying you can be taught dance steps but if you don't get the soul thing , your just a dancer with no soul ,you may as well learn tap dancing or ballet 

Not sure bad dancer's can have the soul but look worse than someone who can dance but don't have the soul.  Having said that it doesn't really matter, folks will go where they are happiest.  Personally gave up going out a while back.

[Geoffp]

1 hour ago, Monny1916 said:

I had a friend Geoff from St. Helens whose wife was a really good dancer,,, she just made it look so effortless,, Stephen 

Stephen. You still have a friend from St Helens. He just doesnt go out so much these days. And she does make it look effortless, i agree. See you soon, hopefully.

 

 

 

[Catsprint]

I’ll have an inferiority complex on Saturday night ....... what should I wear, should I get on the floor and dance, oh my god I hope no one is watching me. 

[Frankie Crocker]

1 hour ago, Monny1916 said:

I had a friend Geoff from St. Helens whose wife was a really good dancer,,, she just made it look so effortless,, Stephen 

Now there’s a title for the next BBC Saturday night prime time slot - ‘The Effortless Dancer’... But maybe not as we dance for pleasure and not the cameras, we dance to the music and not the judges, we dance in grungy subterranean caverns and not under the spotlights, we dance for ourselves and not a critical audience.

[Guest Shufflin]

33 minutes ago, Widnes63 said:

I remember a thread about people being filmed at events and his name was mentioned

I don't think Judd was ever the issue at all (on here), the topic (from memory) was about filming people without permission, and sending them up a bit, he certainly captured some great moments in particular the Rugby niter ones are great

[wolfie66]

On 08/01/2020 at 00:47, Tomangoes said:

Back on topic....ish

This is the funniest ' dancer' I've EVER seen.

Ed

 

I thought she were alright....

[Zed1]

17 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Now there’s a title for the next BBC Saturday night prime time slot - ‘The Effortless Dancer’... But maybe not as we dance for pleasure and not the cameras, we dance to the music and not the judges, we dance in grungy subterranean caverns and not under the spotlights, we dance for ourselves and not a critical audience.

'tis something I've noticed in the last 10 years,  very few people now actually dance to the music, ie they just do the same thing at the same speed no matter what the type or tempo of the Track. They look like they must be listening to their ipods as they're clearly not dancing to the record being played. 

Edited January 10, 2020 by Zed1

[Frankie Crocker]

1 minute ago, Zed1 said:

'tis something I've noticed in the last 10 years,  very few people now actually dance to the music, ie they just do the same thing at the same speed no matter what the type or tempo of the Track. They look like they they must be listening to their ipods as they're clearly not dancing to the track being played. 

Yep. Dancing on autopilot. The more proficient interprete the music and adapt their footwork. Shuffle to 70’s and stomp to 70’s... or is it the other way around? Some lads and lasses in the video clips mix the two styles up to good effect. And a big nod of thanks to Judd and others fir providi g the clips.

[Len]

7 minutes ago, Zed1 said:

'tis something I've noticed in the last 10 years,  very few people now actually dance to the music, ie they just do the same thing at the same speed no matter what the type or tempo of the Track. They look like they they must be listening to their ipods as they're clearly not dancing to the record being played. 

I've often thought about taking my own ipod (or Walkman) So if you see me dancing outa time - You know why! 

Len 

[Guest Shufflin]

6 minutes ago, Len said:

I've often thought about taking my own ipod (or Walkman) So if you see me dancing outa time - You know why! 

Len 

apologies in advance to all, maybe Silent Disco NS style could be a thing (each dancer chooses their own channel of tunes)

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by Shufflin

[Soulman58]

5 minutes ago, Shufflin said:

apologies in advance to all, maybe Silent Disco NS style could be a thing (each dancer chooses their own channel of tunes)

 

I worked with someone back in the early 80's who was not into club music in anyway, but used to come out with a bunch of us from work and listened to his own walkman, whilst on the dance floor, a man ahead of his time!

[Veedub]

Back to the main topic... So I take it this guy is going to appear on the programme again ?? I don't think I can take much more !  Hope he's not been reading this thread  

[Paul-s]

1 hour ago, Soulman58 said:

Not sure I agree.  Having seen vids online of the NS film, dance classes.  shows any dance instructor can teach others, obviously those who can dance make it look easier.

Not sure what you mean, the NS film had no instructor(s) teaching steps, it was a monthly gathering where people danced and exchanged through observation. It pretty much developed like observing on the scene, inviting older dancers in so that the younger ones could absorb, ask questions and create and develop. No one stood at the front teaching steps. More importantly, the film was trying to show a historical period (in the 70's) a few set years in time and a specific historical setting, trying to present a certain tiny moment in the scenes history. Therefore the dancers were given indicators of what generally happened and what didn't in that period, but this was only from the perspective of those in the room and other viewers people who went to Wigan might have had very different experiences. In fact this was shown when some people tried to claim the film showed too much drug use and that it didn't represent what happened...well for many of us it presented exactly what happened. The film never claimed to be Northern souls past, present and future and was focussed on one major venue. It was, like any historical film, attempting to represent a few short years in history.

[Tomo]

For me a great dancer, dancing to a great record.

Tomo

[Tomangoes]

I guess it's crazy to compare how I can dance now compared to 40 years ago, like many others, the willingness is there, but the engine is starved of oomph.

Nevertheless, I've said it before, and I'll say it again....for the first minute of 'I'm gone, ton of dynamite etc, I can still keep up with the best of the best. I just need oxygen soon after:)

Ed

 

[Billywhizz]

6 hours ago, Tomo said:

For me a great dancer, dancing to a great record.

Tomo

looka like jordan wilson 

[Guest]

13 hours ago, Soulman58 said:

Not sure I agree.  Having seen vids online of the NS film, dance classes.  shows any dance instructor can teach others, obviously those who can dance make it look easier.

You can tell a mile away those who have been "Taught" how to dance, they look soul-less, they have no natural feel for the music. 

[Winsford Soul]

16 hours ago, Len said:

I've often thought about taking my own ipod (or Walkman) So if you see me dancing outa time - You know why! 

Len 

Len. We both attended a recent nighter when one of the Djs wearing cans  was dancing around behind the decks, looking like he was dancing to a different record than what he was playing , he had already cue,d the next record.  I did comment to a few people who laughed.  

[Moxey25]

On 07/01/2020 at 16:44, Flamingemeralds said:

Why are you on here then?

 

On 07/01/2020 at 16:44, Flamingemeralds said:

Why are you on here then?

Old habits die hard and still have a few records to sell is that ok 

[Paul-s]

5 hours ago, Steve Lane said:

You can tell a mile away those who have been "Taught" how to dance, they look soul-less, they have no natural feel for the music. 

 

You can in a 'live' situation I think.

Harder on video and films, in these cases, the music is dubbed over afterwards and rarely are the dancers in synch with the music and it is often a different track, (or due to the edit a number of tracks) they were dancing too. 

 

Edited January 10, 2020 by paul-s
added

[Tomangoes]

Indeed

Some of those early Wigan dancers are used with several different records!

No idea what they were originally dancing to.

Ed

[Chalky]

10 hours ago, Billywhizz said:

looka like jordan wilson 

It is back when he danced