Lindy Hop/Jitterbug Recorded around the 1950s this footage from The Spirit Moves features Frankie Manning and Willa Mae Ricker demonstrating the Lindy Hop and some aerials. Frankie Manning was born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1914. He moved to Harlem at the age of three, with his mother, who was a dancer. Frankie began dancing as a child, then started attending the early evening dances for older teens at the Renaissance Ballroom. When he was older, he started going to the Savoy, which was for better dancers. He frequented Harlems Savoy Ballroom in the 1930s, eventually becoming a dancer in the elite and prestigious Kats Corner, a corner of the dance floor where impromptu exhibitions and competitions took place. During a dance contest in 1935, Manning and his partner, Frieda Washington, performed the first aerial in a swing dance competition against George Shorty Snowden and his partner, Big Bea, at the Savoy Ballroom. The airstep he performed was a back to back roll and was danced while Chick Webb played Down South Camp Meeting, which was Mannings request after having heard the song earlier in the evening. The airstep went flawlessly to the music and astonished the more than 2,000 audience members. More info: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Manning
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 15:55:52 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015