You ask a good question, you'll probably get lots of different answers.
The "real" Northern Soul scene started about end 1968 beginning 1969. This is when there evolved a conscious effort to find the Motown sounda-likes. By that time the Mods had long disappeared and Skinheads had grown their hair somewhat longer. I seem to remember being called "smoothies".
Mods were into the Kinks, the Small Faces, etc. as well as soul music.
Skinheads were predominantly blue-beat & rock steady although soul music featured strongly outside of the London area. In fact the Northern youth only had 2 choices, standard pop or soul music to listen to.
It's still weird for me to see young(er) people dressing up like what we done
yonks ago, although I'm so glad they like the music.
Talking of the youth and dancing there a young bloke at Stoke Saturday, guess about early 20T's, tall lad, top dancer. Real Northern Soul like, his
very tasty looking girlfriend had yet to "get it" (the dance that is...hhmmm)
But she was so good looking..............who cares ?
Chris L