Young Souls run free

deanchalkleyamy

Amy dancing © Dean Chalkley 2011.

Dean Chalkley's new exhibition showcases the style and moves of Britain's young Northern Soul contingent

Author: Diane Smyth

Dean Chalkley has got the latest Youthclub gallery popup off to a flying start with an exhibition devoted to Northern Soul fans.

Featuring 22 photographs showing off the young fans' clothes and moves, the exhibition also includes a short film by Chalkley on the Northern Soul scene. The film was shot with Canon 5D MkII DSLR cameras, allowing Chalkley to get up close to the action at an all-dayer event he set up especially for the occasion. Click here to see the film, courtesy of 125 Magazine, or visit the Vintage Festival this weekend to see it projected over the Soul Casino dancefloor.

Chalkley, who has been into Northern Soul since he was a teenager and runs Northern Soul, funk and early rocknroll nights in London, shot the stills to show young people they had a choice about the kind of music and lifestyle they got involved with, rather than being "spoonfed the treacle of pop". The film, though, celebrates the broad range of ages that can be found at any Northern Soul night. "The nights often don't start until midnight and go on until 06am but there are always lots of older people and they're not treated like the weirdos in the corner - often they're the best dancers in there," says Chalkley.

Youthclub is a new popup gallery just off Carnaby Street at 2.1 Kingly Court, the latest in an ongoing project by youth culture specialists PYMCA. The exhibition is on show until 06 August, and is open Monday-Friday from 11am-06pm, and on Saturdays from 01pm-06pm.

Visit www.deanchalkley.com.

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