Dancers

[Guest Julia]

Dancers of today!

littel Bob Lee from Leicester can move a bit on the dance floor IMO.

Steve J

Abso-bloody-lootly loved catching up with Bob at Stoke a couple of weeks ago... and the bugger doesn't age! Yes - still a great mover

Julia x

[Toodarnsoulful]

Who is the black guy who won the Alferton dance comp which is on youtube? for me he's gotta be one of the best!! havent had the pleasure of seeing this geezer dance but he's the mutts nuts...

L

[Missing Link]

Just spoke with Tony Gordon - guy on right IS Mike Lefcon. Mike actually won a couple of dance competitions himself - the best part is, he didn't know he was in the contests!!!!

I wasn't sure of Mike's second name - just remember him as 'Stroller'. If you speak to Tony again ask him if he remembers 'Link' from Southampton.

[Guest andyrattigan]

Japanese guy at Cleethorpes last year was amazing. Great foot work and impressive acrobatics.

I agree that Paul Mulholland of Galway, Ireland is a great dancer.

Lots of good dancers whose name I dont know.

Oscar who goes to the 100 club is nifty on his feet as well.

I too agree that good footwork is much more impressive than loads of acrobatics. However those that can co-ordinate the two in time with the music are a joy to watch.

[Guest jobete]

Reading the thread about duffy dancers, made me think who were the best dancers you`ve seen, i personally remember two SANDY HOLT. and don`t know his first name but we new him as JIMMY don`t know wether that was a nickname as he was scotch, he allways danced in front of the stage in mr m`s at wigan

Didn't rate Sandy as a dancer, personally I thought he was pap, there were plenty of better dancers round at the same time, Little Paul (Bradford), Chris Earle aka Sparky (warrington), Vernon (Bradford), Jaquie Temple(Darlington) R I P..... to mention a few. His footwork was crap, granted his splits were good but come on that ain't dancing.

[Harry Crosby]

Didn't rate Sandy as a dancer, personally I thought he was pap, there were plenty of better dancers round at the same time, Little Paul (Bradford), Chris Earle aka Sparky (warrington), Vernon (Bradford), Jaquie Temple(Darlington) R I P..... to mention a few. His footwork was crap, granted his splits were good but come on that ain't dancing.

Yeh as i said earlier i`m not a dancer, and just used to watch in amazement, allready mentioned paul murphy[bradford], have to disagree with vernon though great spinner but his footwork had a lot to be desired only an opinion though each to there own

[Guest nubes]

Yeh as i said earlier i`m not a dancer, and just used to watch in amazement, allready mentioned paul murphy[bradford], have to disagree with vernon though great spinner but his footwork had a lot to be desired only an opinion though each to there own

Dunno.... watched Vernon at last year's Prestaytn in the Redemption room...his footwork was superb...Delxxx

[Guest jumitja]

Elaine (married to Rob, they do the Soul Dog compliations). i adore her dancing. dancing next to her at a nighter is always such a buzz; she inspires me to go further and experiment

and of course Mr BillyWhizz... a true individual who's passion has never faded.

ive got to agree with you there about elaine had the pleasure of dancing next to and buzzing off her moves on saturday at middleton she is outstanding and helen i notice your always on that floor all night looking the bizz the way you dance from start to finish .kev

[NEV]

........and above all it should look effortless

JB xxxKTFxxx

TOTALLY AGREE HELEN& JOAN

A GOOD DANCER MAKES EVERYTHING SEEM EFFORTLESS ,A BIT LIKE A GOOD TRADESMAN EH!

PEOPLE HAVE OFTEN COMMENTED WHEN THEY WATCH ME BUILD A WALL "YOU MAKE IT LOOK SO EASY"

WHICH REMINDS ME ,MY MISSUS SAYS TO ME ALL THE TIME WHEN IM WITH HER BETWEEN THE SHEETS "THAT SEEMED EFFFORTLESS"

[Jellybean]

WHICH REMINDS ME ,MY MISSUS SAYS TO ME ALL THE TIME WHEN IM WITH HER BETWEEN THE SHEETS "THAT SEEMED EFFFORTLESS"

[Guest nubes]

ive got to agree with you there about elaine had the pleasure of dancing next to and buzzing off her moves on saturday at middleton she is outstanding and helen i notice your always on that floor all night looking the bizz the way you dance from start to finish .kev

[Guest nubes]

ive got to agree with you there about elaine had the pleasure of dancing next to and buzzing off her moves on saturday at middleton she is outstanding and helen i notice your always on that floor all night looking the bizz the way you dance from start to finish .kev

Sorry ..meant to add..that Helen always looks great when she is on that floor...pure class..that young Lady....pure cool class...Delxxx

[Guest Souljunkie]

Didn't rate Sandy as a dancer, personally I thought he was pap, there were plenty of better dancers round at the same time, Little Paul (Bradford), Chris Earle aka Sparky (warrington), Vernon (Bradford), Jaquie Temple(Darlington) R I P..... to mention a few. His footwork was crap, granted his splits were good but come on that ain't dancing.

But didn't he win the casino dace comp twice...?

[Guest barnsey]

.....then there was

Sammy 'Slug' Smith from somerset

now he was a real dancer. Used to stick to floor all night long, never sat down. Not even for 1 tune! Salt of the earth! Id rake him as one of the best!

From what I remember he used to take pellets to keep him 'fizzing' all night and he had a sort of natural 'antennae' for a good earthy tune.

Haven't seen him for a while?

was with him last week top guy remmember him doing a three hour helmet spin and din,t even chaff his eye

[Guest littlemissoul]

At the end of the day whoever is on the dance floor looking as if they are enjoying themselves to me they dance great because that is what it is all about loving the music and doing whatever the music makes you want to do.

LOL LMS xXx

[Harry Crosby]

At the end of the day whoever is on the dance floor looking as if they are enjoying themselves to me they dance great because that is what it is all about loving the music and doing whatever the music makes you want to do.

LOL LMS xXx

very well said indeed from someone who`s legs won`t work after one record, anybody seen steve martin trying to dance to his black families music, IN THE JERK!!!THATS ME

Edited April 10, 2008 by HARRY CROSBY

[Jellybean]

At the end of the day whoever is on the dance floor looking as if they are enjoying themselves to me they dance great because that is what it is all about loving the music and doing whatever the music makes you want to do.

LOL LMS xXx

Here here .......well said that Littlemisssoul enjoy your weekend Babe out on that dancefloor

JB xxxKTFxxx

[Guest littlemissoul]

Here here .......well said that Littlemisssoul enjoy your weekend Babe out on that dancefloor

JB xxxKTFxxx

Cheers Hun You to and someday soon we will grace the same dancefloor

LoL LMS xXx

[Soulof]

Who is the black guy who won the Alferton dance comp which is on youtube? for me he's gotta be one of the best!! havent had the pleasure of seeing this geezer dance but he's the mutts nuts...

L

Carl he´s called Liam. sadly haven´t seen him for a while hope he´s not retired. best one I´ve seen live and a fantastic dancer . he came over with 50+ others on the ferry Newcastle - G¶teborg sev years ago and did stuff like on the video ( challenged though by local hero doin stunts to Almeta Lattimore - These memories . ) .

[Guest]

Butch Drage - won dance contest at Casino (black guy, brother called Ricky - who is also not bad on his feet)

Butch appeared to float about 2" off the ground when he danced.

[Mak]

Carl he´s called Liam. sadly haven´t seen him for a while hope he´s not retired. best one I´ve seen live and a fantastic dancer . he came over with 50+ others on the ferry Newcastle - G¶teborg sev years ago and did stuff like on the video ( challenged though by local hero doin stunts to Almeta Lattimore - These memories . ) .

Sorry Soulof but his name is Carl Piper from Mansfield .He's far from retired , he recently suffered a heart attack but like true dancers he did not let a small thing like that stop him , you wil still see him dancing and spinning to his beloved oldies today.

btw the dancer at Alfreton could have been me , the lighting was very bad .....not!!!!!!!!!.

[Guest Souljunkie]

Now come on ,whilst on the subject of dancin how many of you have

ended up sat on your backside while trying to spin

Personally i've dropped two proper clangers in my day, first was at a soul night

in bradford many years ago, anyway i'm up there doing my bit, when the brain

says spin into swallow dive .....off i go great spin into dive i went that far over

with my legs i got stuck upside down with my neck ready to break back arched like a bloody crab ( a pal had to push me over )..oh the joy of being a cocky prat, if that weren't

bad enough the second point of my skills was trying to spin with Doc Martin shoes on, i

couldn't understand why i almost twisted my ankle off as my foot stayed planted, and i went

from being perfectly Vertical to horizontal within seconds, them are the two great moments

of my Dancing skills..lol

[Harry Crosby]

Now come on ,whilst on the subject of dancin how many of you have

ended up sat on your backside while trying to spin

Personally i've dropped two proper clangers in my day, first was at a soul night

in bradford many years ago, anyway i'm up there doing my bit, when the brain

says spin into swallow dive .....off i go great spin into dive i went that far over

with my legs i got stuck upside down with my neck ready to break back arched like a bloody crab ( a pal had to push me over )..oh the joy of being a cocky prat, if that weren't

bad enough the second point of my skills was trying to spin with Doc Martin shoes on, i

couldn't understand why i almost twisted my ankle off as my foot stayed planted, and i went

from being perfectly Vertical to horizontal within seconds, them are the two great moments

of my Dancing skills..lol

Allways remember a good mate of mine dancing with his arm in plaster n smashing this guys watch who was dancing next to him

[Mak]

Back in the 70's it had got to be Frank Bopper , without doubt . In the 80's I would say Thommo from Nottingham and maybe Shelly from Alfreton both I believe winners of various dance comps in the Midlands .The 90's for me saw three very good dancers Carl piper from Mansfield , not sure about the seconds first name , but from Sth Yorks a bloke called Bacon. These two had a couple of brilliant dance off's at Alfreton each winning once .

So far as I can see it has been mainly male dancers mentioned , so here goe's Debbie Riley one of the most graceful and in time dancers I have seen .

[Mak]

I remember a couple of guys who in the 80's used to come round to my house to listen to records (I at the time had stopped going to soul nights , but still had a collection of records ) . They were called Wainey and Stocksy from Ripley Derbys. one day only Wainey came round only to tell me Stocksy (Ady) had been to the Palais and did a spin he lost it and fell over some tables and broke his leg

[Guest in town Mikey]

Now come on ,whilst on the subject of dancin how many of you have

ended up sat on your backside while trying to spin

Personally i've dropped two proper clangers in my day, first was at a soul night

in bradford many years ago, anyway i'm up there doing my bit, when the brain

says spin into swallow dive .....off i go great spin into dive i went that far over

with my legs i got stuck upside down with my neck ready to break back arched like a bloody crab ( a pal had to push me over )..oh the joy of being a cocky prat, if that weren't

bad enough the second point of my skills was trying to spin with Doc Martin shoes on, i

couldn't understand why i almost twisted my ankle off as my foot stayed planted, and i went

from being perfectly Vertical to horizontal within seconds, them are the two great moments

of my Dancing skills..lol

Posted this before. but....

I went to the great Yarmouth Scooter Rally in 1982. We left Dursley at 4am in a convoy of over 200 scoots. It took us until midnight to get to Yarmouth. We didnt even bother registering in our B&B. A quick call was made to let them know we were on our way, and into te first music night we could find. When I was driving my scoot, i'd wear my fave loafers. But they were slip on and possible a millimetre too large. Anywat, on comes Cecil Washington - I dont like to lose. At the break, a little Mikey goes into some acrobatics, and my right shoes flies off and completely totals a table of beer, all over a group of very angry skinheads.

What followed was a Wild West style brawl. A few of our group ended in hospital, as did some of theirs. A good half dozen arrested, and not a scratch on Mikey.

I've worn lace ups on the dance floor ever since.

[Guest Mrs Simsy]

Posted this before. but....

I went to the great Yarmouth Scooter Rally in 1982. We left Dursley at 4am in a convoy of over 200 scoots. It took us until midnight to get to Yarmouth. We didnt even bother registering in our B&B. A quick call was made to let them know we were on our way, and into te first music night we could find. When I was driving my scoot, i'd wear my fave loafers. But they were slip on and possible a millimetre too large. Anywat, on comes Cecil Washington - I dont like to lose. At the break, a little Mikey goes into some acrobatics, and my right shoes flies off and completely totals a table of beer, all over a group of very angry skinheads.

What followed was a Wild West style brawl. A few of our group ended in hospital, as did some of theirs. A good half dozen arrested, and not a scratch on Mikey.

I've worn lace ups on the dance floor ever since.

Great story!

[Jellybean]

Now come on ,whilst on the subject of dancin how many of you have

ended up sat on your backside while trying to spin

Personally i've dropped two proper clangers in my day, first was at a soul night

in bradford many years ago, anyway i'm up there doing my bit, when the brain

says spin into swallow dive .....off i go great spin into dive i went that far over

with my legs i got stuck upside down with my neck ready to break back arched like a bloody crab ( a pal had to push me over )..oh the joy of being a cocky prat, if that weren't

bad enough the second point of my skills was trying to spin with Doc Martin shoes on, i

couldn't understand why i almost twisted my ankle off as my foot stayed planted, and i went

from being perfectly Vertical to horizontal within seconds, them are the two great moments

of my Dancing skills..lol

Pmsl Brilliant .........especially about the Doc Martins

JBxxxKTFxxx

[Mach]

Been a couple from bradford on this thread, heres another PAUL MURPHY, is he still around anyone know?

last saw him couple of years back in and around the bradford/halifax area was then living in idle i beleive and was still on the scene regarding soul nites, dont know if he still does niters though.Used to call him the human dynamo only small stature but could,nt half move and spin.remember at cleethorpes once he went into one of his acrobatic routines the full lenght across the front of the stage amazing!..like an olympic floor exercise..

Chris.

[Guest ScooterNik]

I'm not one for the acrobatics either, sometimes it seems 'too much' for the record? Give me someone who just gets so far into the music that they're exactly on the beat, never miss a change and grin all the way through.

Trifle, if you're lurking, thats you mate......

[Guest nubes]

At the end of the day...Dance,..be it Northern..Jazz..soul funk ...reggae..etc...is about self expression...so what ..if some folk choose to throw themselves around or quietly move and groove... it is what's in yer heart that counts..as long as those. who do....do it with passion...who cares???..i could go on here ..but that is another tthread ...Delxxxx

[Mach]

I'm not one for the acrobatics either, sometimes it seems 'too much' for the record? Give me someone who just gets so far into the music that they're exactly on the beat, never miss a change and grin all the way through.

Trifle, if you're lurking, thats you mate......

got to agree with you there f.b..but i suppose the acrobatics just seem to spark a little bit of excitment when some stomper came thundering thru the speakers and dancers came scurrying on to the dance floor jockeying for position ready to comence the spins and floor work....personally i,d quite happily stand back a yard or two and just groove on the carpet.

Give me a good beat ballad and let the proper soul just ooooze out! any day.

[Ceejay]

quote name='HARRY CROSBY' date='Apr 9 08, 01:06 PM' post='742296']

Been a couple from bradford on this thread, heres another PAUL MURPHY, is he still around anyone know?

[45cellar]

Never really went a bundle on the gymnastics bit, but old Keb could throw some shapes.

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Edited April 11, 2008 by 45cellar

[Dave Thorley]

I can see what you guys mean. but Dennis tricks absolutely seemed to fit the tune. I agree, sometimes, the tricks seem to be in defiance of the record playing.

A current dancer I could watch all night is Gareth X. Like his writing on here, there is an effortless grace. (Apologies if I embarrass G)

Have to agree Mikey, when they did it, it would be to the breaks. But also it was a long time ago (mid to late 70's), almost a different scene. They would be total focused on the record, know most if not every beat of their favourite tunes and when the break came they would instictively us back drops etc as a form of expression. Equally they would not do it to every record, just those with breaks, like Gene Chandler-There was a time, Milton Wright-The Gallop, L J Johnson-Your magic put a spell on me and back then, it was a joy to watch. They were at the peak of fitness, still in their teens and full of passion.

I will also admit that now days it does look totally out of place, but there again the whole stlye of dancing has changed. Back then foot work from some would be far more complex, people throwing in little shuffles, complex step overs at the point of breaks, instead of maybe back drops. To the opening bars of The Lovelites-Get you off of my conscience, many feet would be little more than a shuffling blur.

But that was then, this is now and a bunch of fourty somethings throwing themself around, can bring a smile to the face.

Edited April 11, 2008 by Dave Thorley

[45cellar]

Japanese guy at Cleethorpes last year was amazing. Great foot work and impressive acrobatics.

I agree that Paul Mulholland of Galway, Ireland is a great dancer.

Lots of good dancers whose name I dont know.

Oscar who goes to the 100 club is nifty on his feet as well.

I too agree that good footwork is much more impressive than loads of acrobatics. However those that can co-ordinate the two in time with the music are a joy to watch.

That is just one og the things that is so Special about our Scene, Interpretation of a good tune converted to Dance.

As you quite rightly state it's not all about the acrobatics.

The best dancers are those that are at one with the music, acrobatic or otherwise.

Edited April 12, 2008 by 45cellar

[Bazza]

Well I keep reading this thread thinking about it ,ive been a dancer since the late 60's and I can honestly say back in the day ,I was one of the best dancers on the scene ,past few years Ive had to change my style completley,from a traditional "northern" style to a more of an R&B style of dance but even now when I dance I put every thing I can in to it I absolutley love dancing, all ways will,just have to be a bit more selective in what I dance to ,getting too bloody old

Bazza

[Guest melandthensome]

I shall never forget when PETE SIMPSON and BOOPER were at our local youth club around 1972ish.Now I was a mere pup but our kid was in with the crowd anyway I remember I think the record was Ray Whitleys 'Ive been hurt' which pete lawson had just obtained from Carnforth on those nice white ya know.

Anyway

as the 45 is playing pete and booper jump up on a table then both together in tim with the beat both jumped off into a perfect back flip then carried on over the floor.

No mean feat and HEY SIMMO YOUR STILL DA MAN ANDTHENSOME

Mel

Edited April 12, 2008 by melandthensome

[Harry Crosby]

quote name='HARRY CROSBY' date='Apr 9 08, 01:06 PM' post='742296']

Been a couple from bradford on this thread, heres another PAUL MURPHY, is he still around anyone know?

Small world Harry!! You've mentioned two of my dear friends from my Wigan days on here. Bumped into

Vernon at Keighley last year. Not seen him for 26/27 years and the git doesn't look a day older Was outside having a ciggy and heard his voice and thought "I know that voice." Turned around and there he was. Bumped into him a couple of times since.

As for Paul Murphy, just been digging through my old photos and here he is!! Think I remember Vernon

saying he sees him now and again but don't think he's on the scene anymore if I remember correctly!!

Hope the pics work OK. I'm p.c. illiterate!!! Love to Di xx

It is a very small world carol, now ive looked at those pictures, if thats you with paul murphy, then i remember YOU i used to hang around with the bradford crowd, vernon great friend of mine had a good chat with him at skegness weekender last year and used to see him quite regular when i used to go to brighouse regularly, was and still am friends with derek pearson, george sharp. & mick, do you remember a girl called FRANKIE from redcar, also a lad called JAFFA from up here as well, VERY SMALL WORLD

[Jumpinjoan]

I shall never forget when PETE SIMPSON and BOOPER were at our local youth club around 1972ish.Now I was a mere pup but our kid was in with the crowd anyway I remember I think the record was Ray Whitleys 'Ive been hurt' which pete lawson had just obtained from Carnforth on those nice white ya know.

Anyway

as the 45 is playing pete and booper jump up on a table then both together in tim with the beat both jumped off into a perfect back flip then carried on over the floor.

No mean feat and HEY SIMMO YOUR STILL DA MAN ANDTHENSOME

Mel

I don't know Mel... you looked pretty good getting down with your bad self at Lowton to Oscar Perry - Face Reality.

Now... anyone who can shake their cake to that is da man in my book!

[Guest]

I'll add one more to this list; as he is too modest to say himself

Bazbod_downunder

Didn't you win the Adelaide 2002 National Weekender dance comp, altho it's not like the dance comps they have in the UK, it's judged over 3 days?

[wendy]

That bloke dressed like a pirate who i first clocked at Prestatyn this year and again at Middleton last weekend... Does anyone know this person????

- for God's sake don't ask him if he is a pirate. Ciara did and he was very very annoyed and said she was being racialist. we still haven't found out if he is a practising pirate

[Guest vinylvixen]

What - for living in Marlow ? ........

Malc Burton

For a minute, I thought he said Harlow....ah no, that's me

Lin or Linda....BEST dancer ever ever ever...

Kim Styles - fabulous dancer

Chris Early from Penketh - also appeared on TOTP...amazing dancer

Tony Rounce could cut the rug....

And one of THE best - Martin Bishop

[moodysoul1]

Who is the black guy who won the Alferton dance comp which is on youtube? for me he's gotta be one of the best!! havent had the pleasure of seeing this geezer dance but he's the mutts nuts...

L

i think its Carl Piper he runs a soul nite in rainworth.He's a really nice bloke

[moodysoul1]

Who is the black guy who won the Alferton dance comp which is on youtube? for me he's gotta be one of the best!! havent had the pleasure of seeing this geezer dance but he's the mutts nuts...

L[

Edited April 15, 2008 by moodysoul1

[moodysoul1]

Who is the black guy who won the Alferton dance comp which is on youtube? for me he's gotta be one of the best!! havent had the pleasure of seeing this geezer dance but he's the mutts nuts...

L

i think its Carl Piper.He runs a soul nite in Rainworth.He's a really nice bloke.

[Indywoman]

Anyone remember Tony Gordon from Bournemouth. No acrobatics, totally superb on the spot footwork, no sliding around. Probably the coolest guy I ever met. He'd wear 50s style clothing. He could also hold conversations in rhyme. Finished up as sax player in Blue Rondo A La Turk in the early 80s with Mark Riley (a nifty jazz funk dancer himself), who went on to become Matt Bianco.

Tony is one of the coolest folk on the planet - his glide over the dance floor was mesmerising. Great guy too.

When I first started on the scene I loved to watch the backdrops, spins and 'cleaning the floor with hankie' moves executed in time with the music (not the random 'look at me' stuff you see often these days) - I know I'm an old fogey. One of the best was Steve Gully from Southampton.

[Paul-s]

....what about

Colin 'crazy legs' Magee Now that bloke was like fire on the dancefloor, hundred miles an hour, used to follow 64 beats to the bar, as a rule. Sometimes known as the 'octopus', but no sucker when it came to dancing. From Corby I think?

[Paul-s]

and then there was

Lydia Du Spin.........not many french girls on the scene back then (1976), but she WAS! Absolutely unique and I dont care what you say, she was the best ever. Gliding, sliding, stomping, Acrobatics, the lot. No rubbish! And when it came to spinning, well, this girl was the dogs beret! No throw away moves, no flashy rubbish, just the the pure soul of a french girl living in Darton!

[tim smithers]

I remember Tony, I used to love to watch him dance at some of our local do's years ago, in fact I reckon he was responsible for turning a lot of people onto Northern in Poole/Bournemouth, his brother Connie is still going I believe, he had 3 sisters Shirley, Pauline & Gloria.......his Dad was a character as well, always have a chat, he was a boxer in Jamaica if I remember (Con Snr that is).

KTF

Baz

Your right about Tony Baz, i remember all the zoot suits he used to wear. I used to be at the same boxing club with him i can recall the first time i meet him , he had sparkling socks on and a fifties suit. I can also remember i had to rush to put my boxing gloves on if i was on after his fight, because he would almost always knock the other guy out in the fist round. At the time he was one of the best boxers in the country, and you are again right when you say he was responsible for turning a lot of people on to Northern Soul