The Greatest Dancer

[Tomangoes]

Theres a lady DJ......doing the rounds.......who is as good a dancer as anybody I've seen.

I'm crap with names, but you will know who she is if you've seen her.

Ed

[Monny1916]

Are we talking wee Sam Evans ?.

[Tomangoes]

that rings a bell!

more energy than a power station!

ed

[Monny1916]

Dark spiky hair,about 5' tall ? If so could be wee Sam runs a lovely soul night in Hinckley with her man Andy,, Stephen 

[Zed1]

How to Stomp..... 8.18 in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GQ-bqU_9y4

Edited January 18, 2020 by Zed1

[Rhino]

8 hours ago, Tomangoes said:

Theres a lady DJ......doing the rounds.......who is as good a dancer as anybody I've seen.

I'm crap with names, but you will know who she is if you've seen her.

Ed

Could it Joan livesey aka jumpin' Joan now there is a lady who can dance. 

Edited January 18, 2020 by Rhino

[Kathryn Magson]

9 hours ago, Tomangoes said:

Theres a lady DJ......doing the rounds.......who is as good a dancer as anybody I've seen.

I'm crap with names, but you will know who she is if you've seen her.

Ed

I'd say you're thinking of Sam Evans too - lovely woman & a FAB dancer!

[Timillustrator]

19 minutes ago, Kathryn Magson said:

I'd say you're thinking of Sam Evans too - lovely woman & a FAB dancer!

Alex Gallagher is another one, 18 years old, great dancer and DJs in Nottingham.

[Jules]

On 13/01/2020 at 15:14, Zed1 said:

From my very faded memory I think it was 78 when he won. 

if I remember correctly it was 76 at the 3rd aniv  ?

[Leicester Boy]

On 18/01/2020 at 09:55, Monny1916 said:

Dark spiky hair,about 5' tall ? If so could be wee Sam runs a lovely soul night in Hinckley with her man Andy,, Stephen 

Yes been to many dos with her djing and dancing, full of energy and great mover

[fatfish]

On 06/01/2020 at 19:47, Soulfool said:

Some of the not so nice comments are a tad unnecessary.  This scene - as far as I am aware - has been of people expressing themselves regardless of dancing ability, as for drawing negative attention to the scene, nonsense, I thought the Dude did good and let the world know that Northern Soul dancing is alive and kicking - pardon the pun.

Let the world know Northern Soul Dancing is alive.....That was a total embarrassment and anybody who has been on the scene a long time will understand why.....He`s turned this once great underground scene into a laughing episode and that`ll take some beating in the future but I don`t hold my breath with the UK media.....They like a good laugh!!!.....Got nothing against the guy prancing I mean dancing, he`s got balls to go on there,just hope his phone does`t ring for a follow up spot.......No way can you say the guy did good unless youve just been going to soul do`s for a short time and think wow!!! this is so good he`s let the world know how we dance at Northern Soul I am so proud!!!!!!!  

[Speedlimit]

There's still lots of good dancers on the scene. Most of them don't wish to be seen prancing on stage in baggy pants having the p..s taken out of them  by judges comments they can't hear, the scene as always. Been ridiculed by the media so this is  no exception, it's the call backs this week, so if you don't want to watch find it a deep sand pit and Bury our heads. There could be a storm a brewing

[Paul-s]

I think the whole topic of who is/was the best Northern Soul dancer is tenuous and packed full of totally subjective views based on multiple aspects of (non)involvement in the scene: venues, time scale, age, corporeal preferences, music preferences etc. Basically, it's a ridiculously repeated topic that ends up with lots of videos that have already been mediated because they are videos, and many are videos being re-mediated (via here) because they were initially TV programmes. People end up pushing and posting their own 'champs' with words like 'proper' or 'right' or 'best' to enamour a general consensus among the various factions that exist. It's as absurd as the 'World Northern Soul Dance Championship' which is a totally ridiculous event geared towards making a promoters venue seem more important than it is (you never see many internationally invited competitors, or it being held in other countries on rotational invite). It's as absurd as people advertising 'Northern Soul Dance Classes" when all they can genuinely claim is 'How I dance to Northern Soul Classes'.  

My point is, it's in the eye and soul of the beholder. One of the best dancers I ever saw was a guy called 'George' in Seattle; when I was with DDA DJing there. He got up in a 300 capacity venue, went to the centre of the floor (no one was dancing) closed his eyes, stood with his feet fixed and gave it his soulful all, long hair waving about, swaying and bending, totally lost in the music and totally expressing the soul of it... no blueprint for him and he didn't need or want one...he was just honest and in it.

Pontificating on peoples dancing is a personal choice, but boy do these threads repeat the same old same old and often measure all dancing against a totally random and imagined template of what is 'proper'.

 

 

[Mssoulie]

8 minutes ago, paul-s said:

I think the whole topic of who is/was the best Northern Soul dancer is tenuous and packed full of totally subjective views based on multiple aspects of (non)involvement in the scene: venues, time scale, age, corporeal preferences, music preferences etc. Basically, it's a ridiculously repeated topic that ends up with lots of videos that have already been mediated because they are videos, and many are videos being re-mediated (via here) because they were initially TV programmes. People end up pushing and posting their own 'champs' with words like 'proper' or 'right' or 'best' to enamour a general consensus among the various factions that exist. It's as absurd as the 'World Northern Soul Dance Championship' which is a totally ridiculous event geared towards making a promoters venue seem more important than it is (you never see many internationally invited competitors, or it being held in other countries on rotational invite). It's as absurd as people advertising 'Northern Soul Dance Classes" when all they can genuinely claim is 'How I dance to Northern Soul Classes'.  

My point is, it's in the eye and soul of the beholder. One of the best dancers I ever saw was a guy called 'George' in Seattle; when I was with DDA DJing there. He got up in a 300 capacity venue, went to the centre of the floor (no one was dancing) closed his eyes, stood with his feet fixed and gave it his soulful all, long hair waving about, swaying and bending, totally lost in the music and totally expressing the soul of it... no blueprint for him and he didn't need or want one...he was just honest and in it.

Pontificating on peoples dancing is a personal choice, but boy do these threads repeat the same old same old and often measure all dancing against a totally random and imagined template of what is 'proper'.

 

 

Spot on Paul. If you're watching somebody that's (in it)or in the zone or totally taken over by the music then you are watching somebody truly dance. 

Hugh. 

[Widnes63]

1 hour ago, paul-s said:

I think the whole topic of who is/was the best Northern Soul dancer is tenuous and packed full of totally subjective views based on multiple aspects of (non)involvement in the scene: venues, time scale, age, corporeal preferences, music preferences etc. Basically, it's a ridiculously repeated topic that ends up with lots of videos that have already been mediated because they are videos, and many are videos being re-mediated (via here) because they were initially TV programmes. People end up pushing and posting their own 'champs' with words like 'proper' or 'right' or 'best' to enamour a general consensus among the various factions that exist. It's as absurd as the 'World Northern Soul Dance Championship' which is a totally ridiculous event geared towards making a promoters venue seem more important than it is (you never see many internationally invited competitors, or it being held in other countries on rotational invite). It's as absurd as people advertising 'Northern Soul Dance Classes" when all they can genuinely claim is 'How I dance to Northern Soul Classes'.  

My point is, it's in the eye and soul of the beholder. One of the best dancers I ever saw was a guy called 'George' in Seattle; when I was with DDA DJing there. He got up in a 300 capacity venue, went to the centre of the floor (no one was dancing) closed his eyes, stood with his feet fixed and gave it his soulful all, long hair waving about, swaying and bending, totally lost in the music and totally expressing the soul of it... no blueprint for him and he didn't need or want one...he was just honest and in it.

Pontificating on peoples dancing is a personal choice, but boy do these threads repeat the same old same old and often measure all dancing against a totally random and imagined template of what is 'proper'.

 

 

Corporeal... word of the day 

Ste.

[Geeselad]

Watch the movie again this week and noted when they take the pee out of some who had won a dance championship. Was it viewed with the same disdain that me and my mates reserved for PA's at raves, I wonder? 

[Monny1916]

I go for a northern soul work out most Saturdays ,, as a 15 year old it was a wee bit easier but if it's in your blood and you're able ,go and support your local club,,,, you don't forget how to dance,it's like riding a bicycle,, just enjoy yourselves and have a great night,, and don't forget we are all great dancers in the kitchen.. God bless ...Stephen 

 

[Derek Pearson]

On 10/01/2020 at 22:14, Zed1 said:

Isn't there some footage of Vernon dancing/spinning at Wigan Ste?..

 

On 10/01/2020 at 23:39, Tomo said:

Great footage showing some unbelievable spinning from Vernon -Did see him come second in a dance competition at Hinckley ( think it was the night Edwin Starr was on) by a guy called Kim, what a dancer he was.

Tomo

 

On 11/01/2020 at 13:16, Rhino said:

The best dancer I've personally and around good lad Vernon, remember him winning the dance competition at the morecambe pier anniversary. Think I was told he won at station road didn't he Ste? 

 

On 13/01/2020 at 20:14, Zed1 said:

From my very faded memory I think it was 1978 when he (Vernon) won at Wigan. 

Often when there's a thread on here with people discussing their favourite dancers they often back up their claims with "and so and so won the dance competition at blah blah in 1970 blah blah etc etc.

Which leads me nicely in something that's always slightly puzzled me?

For all the importance and prestige that dancing holds on this fair scene of ours; for all the words we spend talking endlessly about it; for all the YouTube clips we watch and for all the hours spent searching for ones we haven't seen before - how come the dancing competitions at Wigan Casino and the eventual winners every year were given little or no credit by the organisers?

By that I mean it wouldn't have taken much to have some sort of brass wall plaque (securely bolted onto the wall I must add) with the winners name (or even the top 3?) and the year engraved on to it. Then every year after the dance competition they simply update the plaque with a new engraving. The plaque could've been placed somewhere for all to see - a pride of place. Imagine how many people would have taken photographs along side that winners plaque had it existed eh?

Also in the frequent press adverts for forthcoming events at WC they could've printed summat like 'And thanks to all those that entered this years dance competition. The winner was.....' But I never noticed anything

And how come nobody from The Casino management thought to take any official photographs of the winners being presented with their prize or whatever? Maybe they did, maybe they did send them to the press but somehow they never got published (doubtfull eh?) and eventually got lost with the passage of time? Who knows?

Even in the Northern Noise magazine published by Russ Winstanly whilst the Casino was still running there's no mention anywhere of the winners of any dance competition?

With hindsight what a missed opportunity to capture and document such an in important aspect of our scene eh?

What say you?

 

Derek

[Zed1]

10 hours ago, Derek Pearson said:

 

 

 

Often when there's a thread on here with people discussing their favourite dancers they often back up their claims with "and so and so won the dance competition at blah blah in 1970 blah blah etc etc.

Which leads me nicely in something that's always slightly puzzled me?

For all the importance and prestige that dancing holds on this fair scene of ours; for all the words we spend talking endlessly about it; for all the YouTube clips we watch and for all the hours spent searching for ones we haven't seen before - how come the dancing competitions at Wigan Casino and the eventual winners every year were given little or no credit by the organisers?

By that I mean it wouldn't have taken much to have some sort of brass wall plaque (securely bolted onto the wall I must add) with the winners name (or even the top 3?) and the year engraved on to it. Then every year after the dance competition they simply update the plaque with a new engraving. The plaque could've been placed somewhere for all to see - a pride of place. Imagine how many people would have taken photographs along side that winners plaque had it existed eh?

Also in the frequent press adverts for forthcoming events at WC they could've printed summat like 'And thanks to all those that entered this years dance competition. The winner was.....' But I never noticed anything

And how come nobody from The Casino management thought to take any official photographs of the winners being presented with their prize or whatever? Maybe they did, maybe they did send them to the press but somehow they never got published (doubtfull eh?) and eventually got lost with the passage of time? Who knows?

Even in the Northern Noise magazine published by Russ Winstanly whilst the Casino was still running there's no mention anywhere of the winners of any dance competition?

With hindsight what a missed opportunity to capture and document such an in important aspect of our scene eh?

What say you?

 

Derek

Interesting comments.....

To me the dancing is as important as the music, the unique to the scene dancing is what turns the Soul into Northern Soul. Yet there seems to be a 'do what the fooking hell you want as long as your having fun' attitude without paying any respect to the history of the scene or bothering their arses to do a little practice.  Let's be honest a half pissed baby Giraffe in lead Diving boots could construct a rudimentary 2-Step Northern Soul dance in a few minutes yet people seem to accept a floor full of dad dancing piss-heads as the Norm.

We ask that everyone respects and celebrates the music, why not the dancers and dancing as well? 

Edited January 25, 2020 by Zed1

[Blackpoolsoul]

So that's the end of this thread seems like Giovanni may be returning his threads as well as he failed to get through

Never mind Northern Soul lives another day......again for the better

Edited January 25, 2020 by Blackpoolsoul

[Guest Shufflin]

there's a certain youtube clip of NS dancers and someone new it it all posted this comment on the video:

I never tried northern soul dance, because I always thought it looked a bit strange. But I did always wonder at the expression of calm relaxation that was on the dancers faces.And in a way I used to envy their happy contentment. There is a sense if abandone in northern soul dance which I've never noticed in any other dance form, almost like a meditative state. Its as though they had lost all sense of self consciousness and were free!! That's the thing I picked up on with this great dance form. Freedom, Contentment and Joy.

Freedom, Contentment and Joy.

 

[Frankie Crocker]

The suspense is finally over. Giovanni did not make it through to the next round. The scene can now return to its usual state of freedom, contentment and joy...

[Seand]

On 10/01/2020 at 21:38, Wiggyflat said:

1339 on here.....the man in the zone.This style of dancing I think has died but i rememember loads of lads dancing like this.

 

 

Gary Taylor from Burnley isn't it? Off the scale spinner.

[Keamus]

Used to love watching him dance at Morecambe, Warrington, The Carousel and Burnley back in the mid 80s. Sure he came from Crewe?

[Seand]

Think he had a girlfriend from Crewe. And may have moved there after Burnley.