In this Manchester Scene Stories interview, I sit down with legendary Moss Side dancers Foot Patrol – Samson and Zippa Tafari – to explore how they helped shape Manchester’s early house music culture and The Haçienda era.
Before house music exploded across the UK, Foot Patrol were already shaping dance culture in Manchester. Growing up in Moss Side, they formed Foot Patrol through youth centres, blending reggae steppers, jazz fusion, electro funk and hip hop into a completely unique footwork style. Their name says it all – patrolling cities, travelling to Liverpool, London, Nottingham, Birmingham and beyond, representing Manchester on the dancefloor.
We talk about their early days at clubs like Legends, The Ritz, Playpen and The Gallery, and how when house music first landed in England, Manchester embraced it instantly. According to Foot Patrol, when London hesitated, Manchester moved. When the beat hit, the adrenaline followed.
Samson reflects on the key figures who helped shape the magic – Leroy Richardson, Greg Wilson, Hewan Clarke, Mike Pickering, Graham Park, Ian Brown, Manny, Benz from Happy Mondays, Russ Marland and many more. These were the architects of a cultural shift that defined an era.
Zippa Tafari takes us back to the reggae dub scene and explains how jazz hoofing, the Nicholas Brothers, Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire influenced Foot Patrol’s dance fusion style. From Bob Says Opportunity Knocks to The Hitman and Her, from Rock City to Mr Smiths, from Manchester to Zurich in 1994 – Foot Patrol took their moves worldwide.
We also discuss the iconic Moss Side 1986 clip where Adonis was being played – proof that house music was already pumping in Manchester before many realised. The influence of electro at Legends, the dance battles across the UK, and how Foot Patrol would enter The Haçienda at 11pm – the moment the night truly began.
There’s even a look at their new creation – the “Haçienda Hopscotch” – bringing house music rhythm into schools and teaching balance, posture and movement to the next generation.
Most importantly, this conversation captures something often forgotten: before the rave era simplified movement, dancing was an art form. Pride. Skill. Expression. Foot Patrol weren’t just dancers – they changed the energy of rooms.
Samson also wanted to acknowledge more of the people who were part of that journey – the dancers, DJs and community who helped build the movement. This wasn’t just about three or four individuals. It was a collective Manchester story.
If you love Manchester music history, the Madchester era, house music origins, electro, hip hop culture, or The Haçienda legacy – this one’s for you.
Keep dancing wherever you are in the world.
Thanks to Peter J Walsh for some cool photos. Check out his website-
peterjwalsh.com
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