Frankie Manning 102 Birthday Google Doodle (2016-05-26) by Nate SwinehartFrankie Manning Foundation
"Known as the Ambassador of the Lindy Hop--the exuberant style born in Harlem--Frankie Manning is remembered as the first person to take swing from the dancefloor to the air above it... celebrating Frankie Manning’s acrobatic, powerful style, in which his partners were flipped and spun to the emphatic horns of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and others."
Savoy Ballroom
Home of the "Happy Feet" as well as the greatest bands and dancers of the swing era. Frankie Manning's talent was recognized and nurtured at the Savoy by onetime bouncer, Herbert "Whitey" White, who invited him to join the performance group, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
The Lindy Hop at the Savoy
The Lindy hop was born in the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem in the late 1920s. From the Savoy it spread around the world.
Why was the Savoy Ballroom important? (2018) by Jamin JacksonFrankie Manning Foundation
Jamin Jackson of Tulsa OK is one of the Frankie Manning Foundation Ambassadors -- outstanding dancers in the new generation who carry on Manning's mission of spreading the joy of Lindy hop. Jamin explains the historical importance of the Savoy Ballroom in this video.
Whitey's Lindy Hoppers (1937) by Publicity PhotoFrankie Manning Foundation
Whitey's Lindy Hoppers were a select group of Savoy Ballroom dancers who went on to be professionals, performing in such esteemed venues as the Cotton Club and the Moulin Rouge in Paris.
Frankie Manning On Tour 1938
With their sizzling performances, Frankie Manning and Whitey's Lindy Hoppers spread the gospel of swing music and dancing around the world.
Hollywood Hotel Revue (1938) by Collection of Judy PritchettFrankie Manning Foundation
In 1938 Manning's group of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers toured Australia and New Zealand as the "Big Apple Dancers" in the Hollywood Hotel Revue. According to reviews, the crowds went wild for their performance.
Hellzapoppin' "Fixed" - The Routine (1941) by Frankie Manning, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, Andy LewisFrankie Manning Foundation
Hellzapoppin' Dance Routine
The Lindy hop scene from the 1941 comedy film Hellzapoppin' is widely regarded as the best Lindy hop dancing ever captured on film. Some forty years after it was made a new generation of dancers discovered the film clip and dedicated themselves to reviving the dance. There are now Lindy hop clubs, groups, events and nightspots in over 60 countries in the world.
Frankie Manning T-Shirt Quilt (2009) by Jen Pringle, quilter and Tamara Pinco, photograherFrankie Manning Foundation
Frankie Manning T-Shirt Quilt
Since the mid-1980s, a whole new generation of dancers has been anxious to learn, dance and perform the Lindy hop. Frankie Manning obliged them right up to his passing in 2009, teaching and telling stories of the Savoy Ballroom in numerous camps and workshops all over the globe. Manning's t-shirt collection from these events was lovingly assembled into a commemorative quilt by Jen Pringle, now owned by Lana Turner.
Savoy Ballroom Monument Marks the Spot
Savoy Ballroom dancers Frankie Manning and Norma Miller unveil a monument at 140th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem where the great ballroom once stood.
Savoy Plaque (2002-05-26) by Jun Maruta and Yvonne MarceauFrankie Manning Foundation
Remembering the Savoy
"Here once stood the legendary Savoy Ballroom...During a time of racial segregation and strife, the Savoy was one of the most culturally and racially integrated of institutions... it was the heartbeat of Harlem's community and a testament to the indomitable spirit and creative impulsive of African-Americans..."
Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop
by Frankie Manning (Author), Cynthia Millman (Author)
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