The joy of dance - Northern Soul still lives.

In the late 1960s there evolved an almost mythical dance scene that worshipped the 4-on-the-floor rhythm of predominantly rare musical tracks from black American artists. From across the Atlantic ocean British disc-jockeys (DJs) brought said music to an ever-growing fanbase tightly focussed on a few dance clubs; the most famous being the Wigan Casino which catered for loyal, knowledgeable, free-styling dancers drawn principally from English northern towns.  Northern Soul was their "scene" and they were working-class, legendary in their own circles and to this day loyal to the fundamental and undying joy and camaraderie of that original scene, fuelled by the music that typifies it.

In modern parlance the scene was underground, tightly-focused and user-driven. Those who knew, "knew", those that did, "did" and those who danced literally all night, did so with energy fuelled by the joy in dancing with freedom, showmanship and flair, and often a few stimulants to be honest (excluding any form of alcohol). The multi-racial club(s) focussed only on the music that drove a style of dance that remains as unique as it was original, with spontaneity and much athleticism, especially amongst males. Upright dancing with impressive footwork and impromptu spins and flourishes are norms of the traditional Northern Soul dance style, though nothing is prescribed, nor proscribed.

 

Original picture from the 70s

Most musical forms burn bright and then fade, but Northern Soul merely simmered from its inception and continues to do so, but now amongst a wider band of devotees.  Northern Soul is having a global reassessment and has been found to be good indeed.

If you like dancing without fashion strictures of style, clothing type, peer pressure, an actual dance-partner even, you may find intense pleasure in Northern Soul, but will probably never get to actually own an original disc, such is their rarity then and now.  YouTube and Spotify are your only starting points outside of the United Kingdom.

I'd like to quote some words from a modern Northern Soul devotee, speaking to the BBC, that perfectly express what we originals felt in our time. We can't do the moves anymore, but loyalty and joy burn strong and the music lives on.

Modern Northern Soul - still driven by original tracks

Sally Malloy aka Levanna (above), representing a new generation of fans, said she found a new freedom in Northern Soul, which typically sees people freestyling their own moves while sharing a dancefloor with like-minded individuals

"It's one social dance that's not social at all," she said. "When you're on the dancefloor, you've got no partner, yet you're all united in your own way. And I think that's what makes it so powerful."

"You never know what moves are going to come next and you never know what move you've just done. You're just in that moment, you're so present."

"I think the connection between the movement (of the body) and the music is the spiritual side of it - the music is running through you and it's initiating the next move without you even thinking. You cannot help but move and groove to the music. It's brilliant and it's so unique and completely about you in that moment."

"There's a young scene coming through (the world) - young people in these basements getting sweaty and dancing the night away to soul, in the spirit of Northern Soul. And it's growing

Here are some YouTube links to dance styles and music (four-on-the-floor) typical of Northern Soul.

Modern Northern Soul in good hands

Aranivah Freestyling (to Catch That Teardrop)

Stay young and freestyle (Tell Her)

Chilling with Northern Soul

New school old school demo

Northern Soul's 50th anniversary.

A night at Wigan casino (Do I Love You - Indeed I Do)

A very good overview of the original Northern Soul scene.

Modern Northern Soul dance music by Duffy

Now you have a grounding why not listen to a few more tracks.