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No one has contributed more to the Lindy Hop than Frankie Manning.
As a dancer, innovator and choreographer, he has been an unofficial "Ambassador of Lindy Hop," spreading its popularity through three continents while touring with Whitey's Lindy Hoppers in the 1930s and '40s, and again teaching, choreographing, and performing in the current Lindy Hop revival of the 1980s, '90s and the 2000's.
Manning started dancing in his early teens at a Sunday afternoon dance at the Alhambra Ballroom in Harlem to the music of Vernon Andrade.
From there he moved on to the Rennaissance Ballroom, which had an early evening dance for older teens with the live swing music of the Claude Hopkins Orchestra.
Finally, Manning "graduated" to the Savoy Ballroom, which was known for its great dancers and bands.
Manning, competitive as well as gifted, became a star in the informal jams in the "Kat's Korner" of the Savoy, frequently won the Saturday night contests, and was invited to join the elite 400 Club, whose members could come to the Savoy Ballroom during daytime hours to practice alongside the bands that were booked there.
Manning was inspired by first-generation Lindy Hoppers George "Shorty" Snowden and Leroy "Stretch" Jones. However, in order to beat these two great dancers in the intense competitions held at the Savoy Ballroom, he developed his own unique style and his dancing stood out for its unerring musicality.
Fast on his feet and with a keen ear, Manning gave physical expression to the beat, the feel, and the excitement of the swing sound played by the great big bands.
He is responsible for many innovations of Lindy Hop step and style, including dancing at a sharp angle to the ground like a track-runner, instead of in the upright, stiff ballroom position of his predecessors.
In a famous competition, Manning astonished the crowd of 2000 with the first Lindy aerial step ever done.
In 1935, when Herbert White brought together the top Savoy Ballroom Dancers into a professional performance group to be called Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, Manning created the first ensemble Lindy Hop routines.
This gave him an opportunity to expand upon his gift for transforming the swing music into exciting dance-movement patterns.
When Whitey's Lindy Hoppers were in their heyday, Manning was the chief choreographer, serving as what we today would call artistic director, while Whitey was business manager.
He has toured with jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and others.
He performed in several films, including EVERYBODY SINGS with Judy Garland and HELLZAPOPPIN'. More recently, he was the dance consultant for and danced in Spike Lee's film MALCOLM X.
Frankie's fabulous dancing and radiant smile have inspired generations of Lindy Hop enthusiasts, but he modestly claims, "I'm not interested in fame and glory. It's just that I would like others to know what a happy dance this is."
Manning's eightieth birthday, celebrated in New York City with an event called "Can't Top the Lindy Hop!" and attended by top-notch Lindy Hoppers from around the world, honored both the man and the dance.
His birthday dance "with eighty women" showed everyone that both Manning and the Lindy Hop are unflagging in vitality after all these years.
Right up to the eve of his 95th birthday, Frankie still extensively travelled the world "spreading the Lindy word".
This introduction was adapted from an article written by Judy Pritchett .
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Some great compliments from Judy and Frankie.
In case you thought we were making it up, we know that a lot of you heard Frankie on radio say he has always said Herrang was his favourite swinging city, but now he is going to say Melbourne.
Driving him around on the last day he kept saying how touched he was at the warmth of the Melbourne dancers.
Judy loved the energy and vibe that existed in Melbourne.
She commented that this energy has been lost in a lot of places around the world and that the Rythm Hot Shots (Sweden) was the only other group that rivalled the energy at Swing Patrol.
This is probably the greatest compliment you will all ever get in a swing environment. Well done guys.
Thanks to Universal Music and Gorgeous Rock 'n' Swing Gear.
The raffle raised almost $600 for the plaque fund that Frankie spoke of.
The swing CD's in the raffle are "available in all good music stores and generously made available to us today by Universal Music...." Thanks Denise.
A big thanks also to Ray and Mary who supplied the shoes for the raffle.
These guys from Gorgeous Swing 'n' Rock Gear are very generous and we hope you sold heaps at the Ball.
Thanks to our PR man
Getting radio interviews and awareness is not an easy job and we could not have achieved such a great weekend without our PR man Hamish (Manchester Lane student.) Thanks Hamish.. great job.
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 folklore
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 frankie's 85th birthday
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 frankie's 90th birthday
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 frankie's 95th birthday
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 frankie manning.com
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 get that swing
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 have to dance
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 jazz
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 our hero
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 portland workshop
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 streetswings
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 swingin' is believing
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 uncut frankie interview
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 wikipedia - frankie
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