Licensed and Qualified: apparently

[Paul-s]

Personally, I can't keep up with the ridiculous dance related idiocy.

Interested In thoughts on this:

 

[Happy Feet]

Very impressive

[Markw]

[Mark S]

Does that mean I will have to renew my licence when I'm 70. 

[Happy Feet]

2 minutes ago, Mark S said:

Does that mean I will have to renew my licence when I'm 70. 

Check carefully it may be sooner , I have to renew before May 24 , and I'm only 66 ,,,, 

[Sikirby]

The Founder of Northern Soul Dance in the UK???

[Benji]

Paul, you're qualified as a bonafide "Waldorf and Statler" Northern Soulie. Times are changing. Get over it.

[Paul-s]

10 hours ago, Benji said:

Paul, you're qualified as a bonafide "Waldorf and Statler" Northern Soulie. Times are changing. Get over it.

Benji, we are obviously so very different in our connection with the scene.

I love the spot on and often hilarious critiques that 'Waldorf and Statler' do, so thanks for the compliment.

I prefer them to the empty headed, narcissistic, wishful thinking of Miss Piggy: which has to be your Northern Soul Muppet character,  judging by the spurious, empty headedness of this post

You seem to never have been a part of anything  "manamana doo doo di do do", so nothing to get over I guess.

Edited December 29, 2023 by Paul-s
typo

[Petesi]

Oh Gosh , I never new you needed a qualification or licence to teach or pass on tips with regards to northern soul dancing. Been doing it for almost 40 years illegally but as I like to say... it`s not what you do, it`s what you get caught doing that`s the problem! Now where`s me dog licence

[Mark S]

Now we have to be licenced we are restricted to 70mph stompers and in Wales 20mph beat ballads worrying times ahead folks. 

And with the news that the worst record ever is for sale don't think I can cope

[Chalky]

11 hours ago, Benji said:

Paul, you're qualified as a bonafide "Waldorf and Statler" Northern Soulie. Times are changing. Get over it.

If you'd had been a part of this scene for decades and invested so much of your life in it you would understand 100% where Paul is com ing from.

[Soul16]

Until the dancing regulatory authority taps me on the shoulder, I'm gonna carry on without qualification or any kind of approval Certification.

[Mal C]

I don't think I'm letting any secrets go here, but you don't have to join the 'NSDLPTD'.  If you experimented with Northern soul dancing in the 8ts, that qualifies you for free membership to the 'DDONDTNS' that’s the 'Drunk dancing on the Dancefloor to Norther Soul', in fact anything over 4/5 pints of Adnams would qualify you as a Master/Examiner. 

But pls remember, prices at the Bar, can vary...

[Paul-s]

43 minutes ago, Soul16 said:

Until the dancing regulatory authority taps me on the shoulder, I'm gonna carry on without qualification or any kind of approval Certification.

Risky behaviour! 

[Timillustrator]

Seems to be a creeping thing in all walks of life, I've seen lots of people claiming to be licensed to paint or draw in recent years! There's seriously a Bob Ross school of painting which does all these courses at different levels, absolute madness. It's not like being a pilot is it? 

But if people will pay, then fair enough no one dies.

[Tony Foster]

Licenced and qualified, oh dear, so far away from the roots we grew up with. 

[Soul Salad]

What does NSDLPTD stand for?

[Shinehead]

 

15 hours ago, Soul Salad said:

What does NSDLPTD stand for?

Northern Soul Dance Lessons Professional Teacher Of Dance.

Maybe ?

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by Shinehead

[Petesi]

5 hours ago, Shinehead said:

 

Northern Soul Dance Lessons Professional Teacher Of Dance.

Maybe ?

 

Or .. Northern soul dancers,  learn, practice ...then dance!

[Paul-s]

On 29/12/2023 at 15:43, Timillustrator said:

Seems to be a creeping thing in all walks of life, I've seen lots of people claiming to be licensed to paint or draw in recent years! There's seriously a Bob Ross school of painting which does all these courses at different levels, absolute madness. It's not like being a pilot is it? 

But if people will pay, then fair enough no one dies.

Mmmmm, well, for me something does die, as with most culture when it becomes purely about packaging a product and selling it: devoid of context, lacking care, connection, knowledge, community, musical roots, class roots, architecture, history, connection to the scene etc. Driven by the narcissism of wanting to be a northern soul dance star and the arrogance of telling others how to hear and dance to northern soul (just like you hear it and dance to it). Where does the arrogance of thinking they must intervene to help dance evolve on a cultural scene that has managed over 5 decades without their presence?

Telling punters that NS dancing is actually difficult to learn, and that they can only access it via your limited knowledge classes, and your embarrassing rendition of what you think it is, is killing the whole point of the 'soul' in the title.
The 'soul' in the term 'northern soul, is about going out, listening, watching, talking, connecting, meeting, feeling the movement of a venue and the other souls dancing, and giving time. Perhaps most importantly, not regarding it as disconnected from the music, loving the music first: patience and a hint of devotion perhaps.

The onslaught of all these crassly packaged classes treats NS like a musical theatre, performing arts course excursion, or a get fit class. The music and the artists, and link to that primary source, is driven out. Its a way of preparing punters for a Darby and Joan night out or a good old knees up at Blackpool. 

The scene I know is different, the opposite of that. Firstly, its a NS 'scene', full of complexity, driven by a love of, and connection with, the music. The dancing is a response to that connection. The classes create a disconnection, the important initial stages are missing: terrible cod dancing, taught by soul vampires, that creates soul-less, disconnected punters looking to hop around somewhere. No discerning taste involved.

I think the fact that people are dim enough, or fooled enough by false sales narratives, to pay for it, does not qualify it as 'fair enough' for me. 

I'm always shocked by blasé comments like "well its ok no one dies" or "why should I care", "times are changing".

As I've said before, I must have a very different experience over the past 47 of being part of scene that carried on way past Wigan. A scene that went underground, overground, but never Wombling free: picking up any old rubbish.

Edited December 30, 2023 by Paul-s

[Paul-s]

21 hours ago, Soul Salad said:

What does NSDLPTD stand for?

Notably Shi££ Disconnected Leaping Prancing Tap Dance

[Woodbutcher]

11 minutes ago, Paul-s said:

Notably Shi££ Disconnected Leaping Prancing Tap Dance

More Nauseating then Notably ... 

[Steviehay]

Im Joining that group from Judea 

Edited December 30, 2023 by Steviehay

[Mark S]

I am a crap dancer, do I need lessons? 

No I'm great at being a crap dancer

[Bo Diddley]

Once you've completed the training are you allowed to have letters after your name. This would let everybody know your status.

Perhaps...

"Trained With Accredited Tutor"

[Paul-s]

2 hours ago, Woodbutcher said:

More Nauseating then Notably ... 

yes! spot on....

Nauseating Shi$£ Disconnected Lame Prancing Tap Dance

[Woodbutcher]

21 minutes ago, Bo Diddley said:

Once you've completed the training are you allowed to have letters after your name. This would let everybody know your status.

Perhaps...

"Trained With Accredited Tutor"

And for the new lot  ...   "Trained Without Amphetamines Too"

[Paul-s]

16 minutes ago, Paul-s said:

yes! spot on....

Nauseating Shi$£ Disconnected Lame Prancing Tap Dance

Its all small home made UK dance groups who make themselves sound official. Like a dodgy plumber or builder uses made up accreditation. Difference is people usually check if the builder is the real Mcoy (Van), a quick search shows nothing for this.

Try tracking down UKAPTD of which the she is a fellow: Mickey Mouse comes to mind. Most of these type orgs ask for a fee and then give you a title, and then you carry on the same route with your students.

Dance Teacher Kenny, the next in line, as Hoagy might say, has an interesting background.

https://www.northernsouldance.co.uk/

Head of Dance is someone called Sharon: its all very Italia Conti, Bonnie Langford misinterpretation of the Northern Soul Scene and its culture

 

Edited December 30, 2023 by Paul-s

[Soul Salad]

I've just signed up - looks fantastic

[Soulandy]

If only I knew about this before Christmas. I could of got santa to get me a dvd

Just have to put up with the youtube clips

[Douglaschip]

Teacher trainer as well - I wonder which University accredits this and the lucky lecturer who gets to sign off after moderation 

[Davey S]

Northern Soul and the Media , never a good combination. 

[Greedy]

On 29/12/2023 at 18:56, Soul Salad said:

What does NSDLPTD stand for?

Does it stand for 

Northern soul dancer loves ponderax, tenuate dospan, Dexedrine.

 

[Greedy]

18 hours ago, Bo Diddley said:

Once you've completed the training are you allowed to have letters after your name. This would let everybody know your status.

Perhaps...

"Trained With Accredited Tutor"

The only letters most soul dancers have after their names are SKF

[Mark S]

31 minutes ago, Greedy Mick said:

The only letters most soul dancers have after their names are SKF

Behave according to Uncle Russ it was Lucozade

[Mal C]

I checked the video out, thats the Penguin right?

 

[Timbo58]

I feel as much genuine sorrow for those conned by this nonsense.

If you have to buttonhole it, categorise it and especially if you have to sanitise it & water it down then it ain't Northern soul.

 

 

[Catsprint]

On 28/12/2023 at 22:52, Mark S said:

Does that mean I will have to renew my licence when I'm 70. 

Hmmm, I’ve not got one

[Rick Scott]

Back in the early days of the scene we learned to dance just like when we were babies we learned to crawl before we walked and went on to learn how to ride bikes (No Puns Please)  Certainly Didn't Need A Licence.

We did our on thing as to what we were capable of and observed others and pick up tips.

I was never an acrobatic style dancer but there was (and still is) lots of very good capable  dancers out there doing there thing.

Why do people think having Northern Soul Dance Lessons going to do it for them, just watch and observe dancers at venues and then develop a style you feel comfortable with and possibly unique to you, much better i think.

Any way got to go now....... My Brain Hurts  

 

Edited January 3 by Rick Scott
Extra bit of info

[Paul-s]

1 hour ago, Rick Scott said:

Back in the early days of the scene we learned to dance just like when we were babies we learned to crawl before we walked and went on to learn how to ride bikes (No Puns Please)  Certainly Didn't Need A Licence.

We did our on thing as to what we were capable of and observed others and pick up tips.

I was never an acrobatic style dancer but there was (and still is) lots of very good capable  dancers out there doing there thing.

Why do people think having Northern Soul Dance Lessons going to do it for them, just watch and observe dancers at venues and then develop a style you feel comfortable with and possibly unique to you, much better i think.

Any way got to go now....... My Brain Hurts  

 

Spot on.

[Shinehead]

Sorry to say its the new line dancing, been watching a few videos of old nighters from the 80s 90s and the great dancers on there are few and far between but you could tell they all felt the music unlike the venues these learners will be attending, fake dancing, fake handshakes and stupid clothes.

 

[Soul16]

No licences should be issued without the passing of a theory test first in any case.

For example: "What is the maximum number of handbags allowed in a single pile for every 12 square metres of dance floor?"  

 

[Mark S]

If you didn't have it back in the day tough. 

[Wiggyflat]

I think it's people who want to be famous and well known doing it through the Northern Soul scene....they have not got the nose to find the records ...scrimp and scrape to buy the records....no interest in deejaying (that's too hard), know a counterfeit from a real one (nor are they bothered).....know about the artists......learn a few moves and proclaim you are an expert. Put up loads of videos and get loads of likes and be famous online...you never know some tv company might put you on telly.. I remember a dance teacher called Sharon  about ten years ago at a venue I was playing at said "why are you playing this Modern rubbish? "It was Heart Be Still by Jackie Moore. I then put on Oh Happy Day and  she ran off to the dancefloor. I scratched my head. She had all the moves though and the qualifications. !

Edited January 3 by Wiggyflat

[Frankie Crocker]

Beware of snake oil sellers with loads of letters after their name. The small number of video clips on YouTube portray Sharon as a vaguely competent Northern Dancer, but she is no expert. Wendy should get her money back or treat Sharon to a night at The 100 Club.

[Tobytyke]

On 02/01/2024 at 21:54, Catsprint said:

Hmmm, I’ve not got one

Watch out for the soul police!

You could be arrested for dancing without a licence and be disqualified for 12 months. 

[Petesi]

My last post or comment on this, northern soul dancing ...It makes your pulse pound, your head ring and your heart sing YES  you CAN learn the moves but when you dance you feel the music, the soul, the spirit of the record and the artist that made it. For me it`s  a moment that transports you to another place in time, when you sang along, splits, kicks and swallow dives or back drops in the breaks and not a care in the world. You can teach the moves but.. you cant teach the feeling, you either have it or you don`t and it will show in the way you dance. 

[Shinehead]

I was never a great dancer but what I did was feel the music and as Pete says above it does transport you to another place for that 2 minutes or so.

What we see today is over the top dramatics talc thrown about as though it is going out of fashion all for the camera , sad that it as come to this.