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Dancing from the outside: A new era?


Paul-s

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2 hours ago, Frankie Crocker said:

Self-obsessed YouTubers portray styles that could be practiced at soul venues. Videos of soul events depict a marked slowing down of movement, often associated with age etc In fact, much of the video material online shows a fair bit of Dad Dancing and Round The Handbags stuff.

Can you share a few YT links of what you mean?

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This so called "rare soul scene", including the way people dance, has been changing and evolving since the early 60's mod movement. It will continue to do so for as long as it lasts.

Strictly from the dancing perspective, who set the original standard ? Was it those iconic figures of the 60's/70's such as Booper Matchy Gethro Caesar etc ?

Then came Stafford and the post-Wigan world in the 80's when there were more mid-temp sounds and RnB which demanded a different kind of physical movement ... as did "modern soul" which became an essential part of the scene. There was a different attitude within the scene in almost every respect.

Then since the 90's and the popularity of weekenders, for many, particularly the older members, it has become more of a social scene rather than dancing all night being the prime motivation for going to events. So that has influenced things enormously as well.

As for dancing and publishing on social media and the "inner self", the obvious example that comes to mind is Levanna. Her first few dance/music videos on Youtube caused a sensation which were loved by many but inevitably also had a number detractors who thought she was commercialising the scene and who also thought she would be a "fly by nighter" who would disappear from the scene in no time. Clearly not ! Levanna loves the music, loves the scene, and is happy to show and tell the  world about it by posting up on social media. And Levanna's own dancing style is great too but different from previous dancing styles on the scene. And she dances the same way when attending events as he does in her videos, depending on what style music of soul is being played of course.

Whether some like it or not, Levanna and others such as Jordan and Charlotte and Sally and Pops represent the rare soul scene for today and in to the future and that will only be a good thing.

Edited by Sunnysoul
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5 hours ago, Sunnysoul said:

This so called "rare soul scene", including the way people dance, has been changing and evolving since the early 60's mod movement. It will continue to do so for as long as it lasts.

Strictly from the dancing perspective, who set the original standard ? Was it those iconic figures of the 60's/70's such as Booper Matchy Gethro Caesar etc ?

Then came Stafford and the post-Wigan world in the 80's when there were more mid-temp sounds and RnB which demanded a different kind of physical movement ... as did "modern soul" which became an essential part of the scene. There was a different attitude within the scene in almost every respect.

Then since the 90's and the popularity of weekenders, for many, particularly the older members, it has become more of a social scene rather than dancing all night being the prime motivation for going to events. So that has influenced things enormously as well.

As for dancing and publishing on social media and the "inner self", the obvious example that comes to mind is Levanna. Her first few dance/music videos on Youtube caused a sensation which were loved by many but inevitably also had a number detractors who thought she was commercialising the scene and who also thought she would be a "fly by nighter" who would disappear from the scene in no time. Clearly not ! Levanna loves the music, loves the scene, and is happy to show and tell the  world about it by posting up on social media. And Levanna's own dancing style is great too but different from previous dancing styles on the scene. And she dances the same way when attending events as he does in her videos, depending on what style music of soul is being played of course.

Whether some like it or not, Levanna and others such as Jordan and Charlotte and Sally and Pops represent the rare soul scene for today and in to the future and that will only be a good thing.

I'm not sure that addresses the question, interesting though it is.

My post was not criticising Levanna or Sal & Pops (i wasn't aware Jordan & Charlotte filmed themselves dancing and i would say they are always 'in the music' and dance for joy rather than performance.
Of course dance changes over periods,  although i would say that a kind of parody/pastiche is quite dominant due to the historical re-enactment scene that dominates many venues: where the dance remains the same because the records remain the same. 

Additionally, I would not regard Levanna and Sal & Pops as representing the rare soul scene as the music they generally Dance/perform to are classic 'oldies'. Jordan and Charlotte however, are very much into rare newly discovered/underplayed old music and and dancing to that..

Back to the question........does dancing for iPhone and for the creation of digital platform content inform a new performative type of Northern Soul dancing 'on the outside' rather than 'from the inside'?
An example would be the performance of the hand gesture to the heart, or the facial gestures of 'being deep into the track' whilst, in reality, performing being deep into the music because you are aware of your iPhone performance and signalling that its Northern Soul dancing.
These historical hand signals/motifs and 'soul faces' seem to dominate the films that I view and seems performative as emblems of Northern Soul.
I'm not really asking if its is a good or a bad thing because that is purely subjective I think.

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5 hours ago, Steve L said:

I don’t know but I don’t see many decent dancers these days (IMO of course) either in person or on videos, in fact I really don’t like watching video clips. 
I suppose not many look like they’re “in” it to me

Yep mainly folk just wobbling about, little footwork and they just look like they are going through the motions.  I know many are getting on a bit but still……

Those that can still do it seem to be dancing to a different record to what is playing, as Paul says just performing for the camera.  

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1 hour ago, Chalky said:

Yep mainly folk just wobbling about, little footwork and they just look like they are going through the motions.  I know many are getting on a bit but still……

Those that can still do it seem to be dancing to a different record to what is playing, as Paul says just performing for the camera.  

Of course this contributes to the almost zero levels of atmosphere in venues now as well -most of em don't look like they're feeling the music but thats another story I suppose

Edited by Steve L
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One of the reasons we enjoy attending soul events is the northern rooms where you can almost always find people who dance with passion and who are totally into the music. At this January's Blackpool LSW, where northern content has sadly pretty much shrunk to almost zero, Soul Sam and Barry Maleady now hold the fort, unfortunately overlapping with the concert on the Saturday. But before we headed off to the concert we heard Sam play a terrific set that had the floor busy from early doors right up to the changeover, and the highlight for me was seeing the dancefloor response to Bobby Thurston's "Just ask me" - no cameras, just sheer joy, and in the background the familiar bobbing figure of a master at work.

Well worth the price of entry.

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I have to say Paul, it's not specific to NS, look at break dancing or footwerk for example, are those guys really into the music or just showing their skills? There has always been a competitive element in NS, some amazing dancers that have all the moves technically, but never look like they were ' feeling it'. 

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20 hours ago, Geeselad said:

Very interesting cultural development really, ' dance like the whole worlds Watching',but sadly a reflection on society at large. Similarly we an army of dance instructors ready to make a buck from a bunch of older folk who heard northern soul at the youthy when they were 15. I wonder if a sociologist is writing a paper on senior citizens subcultures? Definitely not sexy enough for most university professors. 

There is actually a very good book, not current though, about ageing and youth cultures. Has a chapter called

'Parenthood and the Transfer of Capital in the Northern Soul Scene'

It makes some interesting points, but also some tenuous ones.

It's from 2012 so is in need of an update really.

 

 

 

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23 hours ago, Hooker1951 said:

When your feeling it dancing is magic for your soul and your body and your spirituality and I believe you give an aurora of energy and presence that’s visible to people on the same wave length as you, 

keep on Dancing

ML

That’s what’s always created an “atmosphere” something that is sadly lacking nowadays 

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12 hours ago, Lionelonthevinyl said:

I'm crap at dancing But definitely dance to the records I love...I only have one dance as have zero rhythm to any tune😂 I really enjoy myself but for God's sake never film  me unless it's for a comedy video of the worst dancers at a venue...I do like a good chin stroke though and chew the fat about records!! Thank you and great thread.....Rob

The main thing is you enjoy yourself, which is more than we both do watching our teams at the minute.😔

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8 hours ago, Leicester Boy said:

The main thing is you enjoy yourself, which is more than we both do watching our teams at the minute.😔

Absolutely regarding the football my friend!! It's totally about the music for me. Don't know why you would want to film yourself but each to there own..daft world we live in I guess...as !ong as your happy, crack on!. Thank you...Rob

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On 01/03/2023 at 17:04, Geeselad said:

Very interesting cultural development really, ' dance like the whole worlds Watching',but sadly a reflection on society at large. Similarly we an army of dance instructors ready to make a buck from a bunch of older folk who heard northern soul at the youthy when they were 15. I wonder if a sociologist is writing a paper on senior citizens subcultures? Definitely not sexy enough for most university professors. 

Yeah we could stray into the realms of modernity in an instance as we examine the 'gaze'

In critical theory, sociology, and psychoanalysis, the gaze (French le regard), in the philosophical and figurative sense, is an individual's (or a group's) awareness and perception of other individuals, other groups, or oneself. 


Lets dance !!!! all the way to the halls of academia 🙂

there'll be no answer ...but there will be a damn good discussion 🙂

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