I was at local soul night last night and my wife was up dancing on her own.

I was talking to an old work colleaugue and he asked the question

"what's with this dancing on your own?"

My only answer was it's in the beat.......

What would be your response?

I have this with a non-soulie mate and I told her, what you like to dance to is a personal thing in my opinion, if I like the record, Im so into it there is no-one else on the dancefloor!! It's how we show our appreciation of great tunes. Its a great tribute to the artist.

Only works in the soul world though!! I went to a fancy dress party the other night and found it really weird that people kept pulling me up to dance. I felt like saying "will you please get away from me"

"Have you had a good look at the wife"

ROD

"Have you had a good look at the wife"

ROD

only kidding

Edited December 27, 200618 yr by johnm

Maybe it's because everybody's flinging their arms and legs about and if you were to dance with a companion then you'd both be hitting each other and go home with bruises on your legs etc!

i happen to think the dancing is very 'full on' - that is to say it's not just 'dancing round yer handbag' type stuff - quite energetic.

apart from the obvious - that people love the music and love to dance - here's what i think: -

if i were to analyse the dancing i would say that it seems to me quite 'tribal' in that men are dancing with vigour (on their own) to attract a potential mate (just as certain male birds will collect objects to scatter about the nest or male birds that have evolved to have brightly coloured feathers (and 'flash' them) to attract a mate), which is why i think it is mostly men that dance. my m8 said at one event "it's funny but good to see men actually dancing!" (before we knew of the soul scene we would just go to nightclubs where men are more interested in 'letching' over you than of dancing!)

that's why i think people dance on their own! - and no, i haven't pulled an excerpt off the Net - these are my own thoughts.

cyas - wAvy

I was at local soul night last night and my wife was up dancing on her own.

I was talking to an old work colleaugue and he asked the question

"what's with this dancing on your own?"

My only answer was it's in the beat.......

What would be your response?

Dancing is simply an expression of emotion you feel from the very heart n soul - when the music hit's your ear's

Only way you could dance with a partner in this way is to do "shag dancing".

Karen

Edited December 27, 200618 yr by sanquine

The ratio of men to women at soul do's is such that, unless guys dance with guys, there is not enough 'dance partners' to go round!

...because I'm so fat and if I dance with a partner, there's no room enuff for the other dancers on the floor...

Big Daddy Roccia

Have you ever noticed that all the really good dancer always seen to be at the sides of the dancefloor or at the front or back but never in the middle ??? I personally think its because thats where the room is and they can be seen! Also all the spinners seem to compete? I love watching the really really good dancers be they male or female, untill i get on the floor myself when i am always at the back of the room and im not noticing others except the ones that spin

I was at local soul night last night and my wife was up dancing on her own.

I was talking to an old work colleaugue and he asked the question

"what's with this dancing on your own?"

My only answer was it's in the beat.......

What would be your response?

Who`d wanna`dance wi`me. ...........you axin`

All UK dance scenes have been dance by yourself affairs. Mods danced by themselves, Skinheads, Soulboys, Soulies, Rave kids, Indie Kids and even the Heavy Metallers head bang on their own

Edited December 27, 200618 yr by richard

I was at local soul night last night and my wife was up dancing on her own.

I was talking to an old work colleaugue and he asked the question

"what's with this dancing on your own?"

My only answer was it's in the beat.......

What would be your response?

I think there are some worthy replies but my take on it is that the music is so consuming and takes over so as to obliterate anyone else in the room, thus it would be a waste of time anyone else dancing with you.

My take on it, is the way you have to dance to the music if you are trying to dance with someone it can't work you will only get in each other's way. Even when it's slower songs it's just the feel and emotion of dancing by yourself and it's yourself who enjoys the song being played so you dance to please yourself.

You wouldn't dance thinking what the next person next to you is thinking. when you dance normal with someone you can always talk and end up laughing and such at dances. you wouldn't in the Northern soul world

...because I'm so fat and if I dance with a partner, there's no room enuff for the other dancers on the floor...

Big Daddy Roccia

A lot of that fat my friend comprises of your big heart and personality .

Malc Burton

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info : Malc Burton 07748 378275 / e-mail : burtonmalc@yahoo.c.o.uk

Edited December 28, 200618 yr by Malc Burton

I have this with a non-soulie mate and I told her, what you like to dance to is a personal thing in my opinion, if I like the record, Im so into it there is no-one else on the dancefloor!! It's how we show our appreciation of great tunes. Its a great tribute to the artist.

Only works in the soul world though!! I went to a fancy dress party the other night and found it really weird that people kept pulling me up to dance. I felt like saying "will you please get away from me"

Ganche,

Do what I do at none, soul dances make out you have got bad leg, and cant dance.

The worst for me was at a 50th birthday party,my Mrs knew the dj,and told him I went to Allnighters,and left it at that,the next thing the dj Twat, put FCUKING FOOTSEE on for Kev , I ran and hid in the Toilets,till it had finished.

Kev,

Edited December 28, 200618 yr by good angel

Ganche,

Do what I do at none, soul dances make out you have got bad leg, and cant dance.

The worst for me was at a 50th birthday party,my Mrs knew the dj,and told him I went to Allnighters,and left it at that,the next thing the dj Twat, put FCUKING FOOTSEE on for Kev , I ran and hid in the Toilets,till it had finished.

Kev,

You bloody fibber i was there dancing with you

You bloody fibber i was there dancing with you

Alright Spanner,I just didnt wanted to mention you had a lovely dress on

Kev

I have this with a non-soulie mate and I told her, what you like to dance to is a personal thing in my opinion, if I like the record, Im so into it there is no-one else on the dancefloor!! It's how we show our appreciation of great tunes. Its a great tribute to the artist.

Only works in the soul world though!! I went to a fancy dress party the other night and found it really weird that people kept pulling me up to dance. I felt like saying "will you please get away from me"

I do the same!

All UK dance scenes have been dance by yourself affairs. Mods danced by themselves, Skinheads, Soulboys, Soulies, Rave kids, Indie Kids and even the Heavy Metallers head bang on their own

Exactly what I was going to say. Unless it's a meat market disco that has nothing to do with music and everything to do with pulling it's much better to dance on your own.

The original question is a good question though and the answer has to be because it's not about display to catch someone, or an excuse to get close, but a celebration and appreciation of the recording.

some good answers ..cheers

Sorry, yes, wasn't meaning to sound funny or that but just meant not since rock n roll have people danced as couples

I attempt to dance because I like a record nothing more nothing less

so no one dances cause there smashed then???????????????????

Who`d wanna`dance wi`me. ...........you axin`

I WISH I COULD FIND A GIRL TO DANCE WITH,WHEN I ASK SOME1 THEY SAY F*** OFF THATS Y IM ON MY OWN IN THE CORNER.........

When I dance, I'm the only person in the room as far as I'm concerned. I want to be consumed by the music and someone else would just ruin that feeling for me

I used to Jive as an 18 year old into the Rockin' scene, it was a different kind of dancing but then the girls (and some boys) did strolling too that was singular.

Lottie does Latin dancing but can use that as a single person as well if the mood takes her

so no one dances cause there smashed then???????????????????

I was at local soul night last night and my wife was up dancing on her own.

I was talking to an old work colleaugue and he asked the question

"what's with this dancing on your own?"

My only answer was it's in the beat.......

What would be your response?

Very interesting question!

'Fact is, when ya gotta move, ya gotta move! (It's a Soul thing) - and besides, there's no TIME to seek a partner when such as Bobby Hutton et.al. comes on!

The other thing is, Soul gigs are refreshingly different to regular discos, as you can safely go to them on your own, and to dance is, naturally, the NORM for guys (and gals!), whereas prior to the disco boom of 1977 fellers at regular discos (ie. "divs"!) would prop up the bar for most of the evening getting progressively more drunk and beligerent as the evening wore on, glowering at blokes who did dare to shake a leg. This attitude persists to this day, and is something that the Soul crowd will never understand or condone (thankfully!).

I remember reading in Blues and Soul C.1978/9 however, that in America you're regarded as slightly dotty if you get up to dance sans partner! Since I have always been happily "peculiar" anyway, that wouldn't bother me in the slightest!

There's no "unwritten law" that you MUST dance on your own, as far as I know, and there was a period in the mid to late seventies when couples were seen dancing together to Northern sounds (shock horror!) and jiving couples were common (but not compulsory!) at the Highland Room for a short period in '76...

Edited December 28, 200618 yr by mel brat

NO! I've been dancing to Soul music since I was 14 and have never felt the need to get "smashed", "blocked" or otherwise disengaged!

I probably can't add anything that hasn't already been said but here's my own thoughts for what they're worth.

The dancing aspect of the Soul Scene, for me, is just an extension of what I love about the whole experience and when a tune is played that draws me to the floor, it's because I feel that tune right through every fibre and, when I'm on the dancefloor, feel completely consumed by it.

If I was to attempt to dance with a partner it would be a waste of time because, to be honest, once I'm "in the song" I'm unaware of anyone around me (apart from to apologise if I happen to clip someone else's ankle! ).

Back in '85, I got my leg smashed to bits in a motorbike accident and left with odd length legs!

I was warned back then that, in years to come, I would start to reap the 'benefits' of 7 breaks to my leg and a mangled left ankle.

Unfortunately, that has come to pass in recent years and I now dance a lot less than I would like to. But when I do, the feeling is still the same. It's a very personal one and for the 2 or 3 minutes of a tune I want to dance to, I really couldn't be arsed checking if a partner is happy!!! . That time with the artist (s) is mine and mine alone.

Neil :dance: