Northern Soul dancing - can you learn?

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So I am mid fifties and have always loved watching Northern Soul dancing. It just feels really cool.

Id Love to be able to dance like this but despite me trying my in the kitchen at home I have the rhythm of a baby elephant.

Is this something you can learn and how? I’m not up for clubbing - would prefer home xx

I don’t know the answer, but I also love watching Northern Soul dancing, they keep popping up on my reels. It’s so fluid and natural but like you I’ve tried and it’s sooo hard! Have you watched the Brooke Combe video to How can I tell you 🤩

My friend also wanted to do this and signed up for a 10 week, live video course (3 x 1hr classes per week) On the first class they smashed through their french doors and broke an ankle and was too embarrassed to log back in and she still has a limp to this day

Sorry but this is sadly hilarious 🤣

It looks so cool and fun, just posting here for the tips and any pointers on classes.

There’s this:
https://www.northernsouldance.co.uk/

DH discovered this lady during lockdown as he was intrigued by the style. She seems dead keen but there’s something a bit twee about the way she moves, I feel, so didn’t really pursue it at the time. Maybe worth trying for the basics though.
when I was a student forty years ago(!) a friend taught me the basic step - no idea if it’s authentic but it does feel satisfying on the dance floor (or the kitchen) when you can make these slightly clunky, almost offbeat moves to the right music.

Love this - luckily I don’t have French doors ;-)

I’m so sorry to your friend but this really made me laugh. Probably because it’s something I would do.

I don’t know but I too wish I could do it!

I love a bit of Northern Soul 🎶 🤘🏼

I’m old enough to have been to Northern Soul all-nighters, Wigan Casino. I can dance to NS. Probably helped that I did a lot of ballet dancing as a kid! It is fluid and graceful and you have to be supple. Flat pumps and talc on the dance floor helps! I can’t dance to anything else though, like I’ve got two left feet.

Out on the floor and Do I love him are my faves, happy days. Keep the Faith😀

I was the age to go to NS all nighters but I was shit at dancing, I think you need to be light of foot and flexible, I'm not. I'm not any good at any other dancing either.

Go to soul nights observe,practice at home till u crack it and have a go whilst you're at a do.
The Nsoul dance classes are mocked to an inch of their life within the Northern soul Scene

I went to niters across the UK for years.
Another tip you don't have to wear the Nsoul uniform circa 74.
That was a mere snap shot and a lot of it was just the fashions of the day.

That made me laugh and sort of linked to what I was thinking about OP trying to squeeze that style of dancing into a kitchen. It needs a lot of space.

I love Northern Soul music and the dancing too but if I had any life advice for anyone it would be to never attempt carrying a tray of drinks through a dance floor where Northern Soul dancing is occurring.
I know this from bitter experience.

Me either. Are you Dyspraxic by any chance? I could never dance when I was younger (still can't) and couldn't work out why I couldn't co-ordinate my body to do what other people were doing.
It was only when my DS was diagnosed with Dyspraxia that the penny dropped.

Watching videos of people dancing Northern Soul style is my secret guilty pleasure! It's never crossed my mind to try myself but watching it is mesmerising.

I used to watch a video somewhere outside near the sea (maybe Blackpool?) where there were loads of kids and adults dancing but I haven't been able to find it for ages. That was my absolute favourite. The movement was amazing.

I could be, DS has slight dyspraxia. I can't do any of those group type dances either like Gangham style which everyone else seems to manage quite easily. I can't sing either or tell if anything is musically good so probably tone deaf also and no rhythm

Andy Burnham is going to make it compulsory to learn Northern Soul dancing

I did a couple of classes with a local teacher. She was slightly apologetic that actually very little of it can really be taught because there are so few standard moves. She taught us a basic shuffle. Everything else seems to be a variation on that.

I did go to a few Northern Soul nights 25 odd years ago. Aa a young person i was just amused at loads of older people going for it on the dancefloor, but I think it is great now and really joyful to watch.

Just watched another video to remind myself of it. Why isn't this dancing on strictly? It isn't ballroom, but it's entertaining.

Oh I hope so. Just think how fit and healthy the nation will be then.

I could have typed your reply.

I once had a nightmare of an aqua aerobics class of about 50 women and I couldn't work out why I couldn't follow what the instructor was doing. Especially as there were women in their 80s following in perfect timing and I'm flailing about awkwardly in the water.

Never went again.

I've seen that footage I think. Outside , much older people and children all Northern Soul dancing, it was wonderful.

I love the videos too, I clicked on Soulboy's account and now I get loads of them. But I think I'm too stiff. I don't think there's ever been much (if any) of a Northern soul scene here in the rural home counties.

I can follow routines that other people are doing eg zumba class but when I tried adult ballet and tap I found it almost completely impossible to remember the routines so if I lost sight of the teacher that was that. I can never remember the routines for well worn silly dances like the macarena either. I have ADHD in my family and wonder if it's a trait of that.

Look for Levanna McLean (Northern Soul Girl ) on YouTube, she’s an amazing dancer.
DH’s Dad used to attend the Wigan Casino all-nighters and was apparently a great dancer - features on a album cover!

Ha! I've had a couple of gins tonight and was talking to my dh about this. This song was THE song in my local nightspot. I've just tried shuffling and spinning round like I did and have gone over on my ankle <sigh>