Paul-s

It's a bizarre event and the idea that Jack is the World Champion Northern Soul Dancer is totally ridiculous. Most of the entrants looked geriatric to say the least. The tracks they dance to are hammered to death and boring to say the least. Will they still enter at 70/80? Lets be honest, the title is a publicity stunt dreamed up by Kev R and we could do the scene a giant favour by referring to it for what it is: The Blackpool Weekender Northern Soul Competition.

Which seller?

Good summary...

Interesting; the parody becomes the norm. I think you may be right. The thing is that the parody, dancing, style, music, is taken mostly from Palmers terrible film. It's historical recreation, minus connection to the music, due to a focus on connecting to the iPhone to share their brilliance and demonstrate their soulfulness. Nothing new is evolved or developed. The music itself is at a standstill, on repeat. Additionally, perhaps the shift from nighters, the minimal use of gear, or any at all (amongst the clean new Gen) the focus on booze, and other factors play a part?

No way? Seriously?

This is what interests me, because recently some have been advertising themselves as 'The World Northern Soul Dance Champion' and procuring paid work from it. Passing on dreadful, out of context 'performances' of northern soul dancing that is nothing to do with northern soul dancing. The result is that this laughable parody of northern soul dancing (often taught by people who don't even attend venues) is being accepted by producers of theatre, music videos, festivals etc as the genuine thing: and so the parody goes on and on, growing more ridiculous with time. Another interesting point that I am noticing is that the individuals who are promoting this parody are mostly middle class, and, in interviews, statements, publicity and conversations, this important historical context is always ignored or perhaps not even known to them. The question arises whether this history (that has survived over five decades) will be erased in time as the dance and the scene is gentrified by lazy, uninformed, producers and becomes a kind of (cash cow) historical re-enactment: devoid of history, roots, knowledge, embodied experience and informed oral tradition (hip hop dance, for instance, really values the knowledge of elders and makes a concerted effort to ensure its history is preserved and passed on correctly). Personally, I think it takes a lot of ego and delusional narcissism to believe you are The World Champion Northern Soul Dancer: based on a Blackpool Dance Competition that is mostly inhabited by geriatrics. "In the country of the blind the one eyed man is king" comes to mind. I was heartened recently to see Richard (on his own page) refer to it as 'The Blackpool Weekender Northern Soul Dance Competition', which is the honest and accurate description.

OK, cheers

I remember him. A clone of Keb really, which was happening a lot at that time...He would be regarded as too international for Blackpool I fear.😉

Yes, it often looks as if they are dancing/performing over the tune rather than dancing 'within' it. That probably doesn't make sense (does to me though🙃)

Don't joke....it might be a future event!

I'll take this please......

Still looking. I would need it to be posted (UK) and will obviously cover the costs. Best Paul

Judging by the response it appears that the origin of this unique event: 😂

I will PM you thanks

Just to say, I am writing about Northern Soul dancing at the moment and these questions are genuine. So, comments are welcome. I have, since its inception, been bemused by the title of this competition. I, of course, have my own opinion, but I am very interested in your take on it. So, What makes it a World championship? What countries from around the World are represented? Why is it not called Blackpool dance competition (local as in the past)? Is it run by a representative World federation. As with other World dance competitions? Which other countries is it held in? Can another event(s) hold a World Northern Soul Dance Championship: so we will have many World champions? How do the judges choose a winner? Does the title mean the winner is the best northern soul dancer in the World? What do you personally think about Northern Soul dance competitions? Thanks in advance. Paul-S

Used to have couple, but disappeared in the ether somewhere! Cheer Paul-s

I see Jim in the images too (Sadly missed).

Wow, it is truly truly terrible!!

I find that statement totally baffling and to my humble ears totally misguided. DJ's often seem very apathetic in terms of leaving the comfort of their hot box, chancing their arm with a lesser known, or very often have no idea of the massive breadth of whats not played/underplayed. A lot of this might be the result of the demise of record bars at events and the hours we spent listening to stuff we didn't know, searching for stuff we didn't know existed as well as those wants, listening to both sides, and talking records and exchanging stuff to take home and sift through, returning it at a later date on trust. Chalky is spot on on this.

Spot on!

Thanks, really interesting again and some great questions and answers to consider.

Thanks. Very well put...

Thats a new one to me Ken, the Shazam thing. Really strange as a new (lazy?) way that people think will create knowledge, but also mostly out of place on the scene in terms of it not being able to recognise rarer tunes or lesser played I imagine.

Yes, one member mentioned a guy who puts stuff up on YouTube with a note that if you don't want to be in it contact him. But, how do you know you are in it? I think promoters could put a notice telling people to request permission 'before' filming people. Or, even better, don't allow it and everyone get down together dancing, not performing and building some memories (in the soul not on film). But, i'm interested in other opinions, thats just mine....