Comments on: Dancing, Northern Soul Style

By: laurinda

laurinda — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 23:15:27 +0000

do you know of anyone in London who could teach me a few basic moves or is there a dance video – please!

By: Neil C

Neil C — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:58:45 +0000

i need dance classes please anywhere in Norwich ta

By: Ian Hough

Ian Hough — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 02:30:43 +0000

I remember going on holiday with some older mates back in ‘89, and one night we went to a club. These hardened “old men” were dancing about just as you describe, and it was fascinating to watch, as I’d never seen any of them move like that before. What a culture!
I’m really interested in finding stylistic links between the Northern Soul scene and the later football “casual” look. I wrote a book last year called Perry Boys in which I describe how the original style tribe in Manchester were indeed Northern Soul lads who brought Modish aspects to an otherwise ridiculous Skinner culture in the mid-70s.

By: wallofsound

wallofsound — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 18:58:30 +0000

Thanks for visiting, Karen. You are so right about style linked to time on the scene. I’ve written something on that which I’ll post. And so right about the floor. My knees suffer if it’s not a Maple sprung floor. That’s one of the reasons I like my regular club: it’s got one of the best floors I’ve danced on!

By: Karen B - HertsSoulGirl

Karen B - HertsSoulGirl — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:55:07 +0000

Have to admit never read anything so specific about Northern Soul dance style before.

But also you can tell how long someone has been on the scene for by their ’style’ of dancing.

I think more should be put on about the dancefloor not only wooden not sprung, ballroom style which there are not many around now.

By: John Spithead

John Spithead — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:05:12 +0000

An excellent article, Tim. Only problem is that I haven’t been able to get Out On The Floor out of my head since reading it! Incidentally, you might like to pop over to http://ballisticwax.blogspot.com/2008/04/cheap-cheerful.html where I’ve just upped the 7″ of Spyder Turner’s I Can’t Make It Anymore.

By: wallofsound

wallofsound — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 13:45:34 +0000

Thanks for your encouraging words, Heather. Glad you liked it. There’ll be some more on the representation of Northern Soul scene dancing soon. I watched Dance Britannia over the holiday and I have lots to say!

By: Heather MacIntyre

Heather MacIntyre — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:22:09 +0000

What a fantastic piece of analysis, I was so taken with the excellent expression in words of what Northern Soul Dancing is, the steps, the music the use of space.

I have always realised that my dancing is governed by my Brain as the music has such an effect on the moves, rythym and dancing i complete.

I always tell people when I am dancing i am practicing which i still feel is true.

I enjoyed the account of how those with the flips can often appear as dance flops (rythym and movement) and others the glide is perfect.

Never read such expertly analysed account but will ensure there will be many others who will.