Trying to dance

[Stephen Houghton]

Where was your first place you saw people dance to northern.mine was poynton centre early 1970s.and was hooked from there on .my wifes was the school disco at central school macclesfield in the dinner time ,trying to dance to and wait for it kung fu fighting as if ,

[Soulstu]

Shirebrook School disco in 1978. I’d never seen anything like it. A young, small kid called John Sankey was brilliant. Don’t know if he stayed on the scene.

Me and my mates decided in a split second that were were officially into Northern Soul.

We all met up the next day at my mate Dale Wilkinson’s house and practiced the moves as best we could.

What times!

[Len]

I’d seen the 'walking side to side' type dance at ‘The Dog ‘n’ Duck’ in Wellingborough being done by the scooter boys.  But the time that really sticks out for me was at a place run by Cliff Steele and Crew in Northampton called ‘Friendly’s’ (Late 80’s)

I sat there (in my parka) gazing out at the lovely dance floor and this guy who looked like Mick Hucknal from Simply Red was dancing on his own early on.  I was absolutely memorised by it I really was - He was twisting his arms, sometimes he was not just bent double as he was dancing away, but his hands nearly touched the floor.  His facial expressions were also showing that he was really ‘feeling it’.

I hadn’t seen anything like it; I just knew he was completely wrapped up in the music.

NB - We all hate it when ‘outsiders’ come in to our events and start prancing about taking the p*ss (They just don’t understand)

Len 

[Kathryn Magson]

My first all-niter at The Twisted Wheel in 1966 - didn't call it Northern Soul - it was just "soul music" to us back then. I was sold on it all as soon as I walked in the door.........the music.......the crowd........the atmosphere.......the chemical assistance......the whole shebang! We used to joke  "......can you just see us all still doing all this when we're in our 60s...........?" We used to joke about being on the dance floor with a zimmer frame each lol 

[Winsford Soul]

2 minutes ago, Kathryn Magson said:

My first all-niter at The Twisted Wheel in 1966 - didn't call it Northern Soul - it was just "soul music" to us back then. I was sold on it all as soon as I walked in the door.........the music.......the crowd........the atmosphere.......the chemical assistance......the whole shebang! We used to joke  "......can you just see us all still doing all this when we're in our 60s...........?" We used to joke about being on the dance floor with a zimmer frame each lol 

We said exactly the same in 75 as 16 year olds at Wigan. Imagine still doing this in our 40,s never mind now we,re in our 60,s

[Mark B]

Learned to sort of dance at school disco 1970ish to soul stuff my friends brother was the DJ he was a mod, then changed the style 1972/73 when started attending northern nights  the pendulum, sale Mecca, and Blackpool Mecca 

[Merve]

On 07/03/2021 at 11:36, Len said:

 

I sat there (in my parka) gazing out at the lovely dance floor and this guy who looked like Mick Hucknal from Simply Red was dancing on his own early on.  I was absolutely memorised by it I really was - He was twisting his arms, sometimes he was not just bent double as he was dancing away, but his hands nearly touched the floor.  His facial expressions were also showing that he was really ‘feeling it’

Len 

Sounds like Crip from Rushden/Wellingborough way - He looked a bit like Mick Hucknal & was very expressive. Perhaps him. 

[Petesi]

Local youth club "Pendragon" Alsager 1971 a couple of guys from the Torch ( one was the Dj for the night). Me and my mate just stood there amazed. Went out next day and bought a couple of records we had heard played  from blood LLoyd records Hanley, one of which was The Shakers " one wonderful moment".....It still has pride of place in me record case and the rest as they say..... is history.

Roll on July, fingers crossed , Kings H around 3am, Andy Dyson on the decks ..... and the magic continues.

[Tomangoes]

Summer 1973 Conanby Disc youthy.

As a 12 year old wannabe 15 year old, we used to hang around with the bigger boys and look through the windows at these weird folks dancing.

Jimmy Radcliffe and Jerry Williams would belt out every week.

Not until 1975 did I get to give it a go at Donny Baileys nappy night. Big sound was reaching for the best. Thanks IL for introducing me to man made norvun!

Happy days.

Ed