Frankie Manning: The Ambassador of Lindy Hop

Manning 's autobiography, Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop, (Temple University Press May 2007) was written with Cynthia R. Millman. It features his stories about the early days of swing dancing and Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, recounting his experiences up through the revival of swing dancing in the 1980s. Celebrity student Bette Midler calls him, "A poet of the dance floor” and says, ”This book is a must read for any one who loves the dance, amateur or professional. What a life he has lived, and thank God he remembers it all!"



Timeline (courtesy www.frankiemanning.com)

1914  Born on May 26 in Jacksonville, Florida.
1926  Savoy Ballroom opens at Lenox Avenue and 140th Street in Harlem.
1933  First ventures to Savoy Ballroom.
1934  Invited by Herbert "Whitey" White to join elite group of Savoy Lindy hoppers.
1935  Introduces the first Lindy air step, over-the-back.
          Introduces "stops" and synchronized ensemble lindy routines.
1936  Whyte's Hopping Maniacs appear in downtown reopening of the Cotton Club.
1937  Whitey's Lindy Hoppers appear in A Day at the Races (uncredited).
1938  Whitey's Hopping Maniacs appear in Radio City Revels (uncredited).
1939  Arthur White's Lindy Hoppers appear in Keep Punching.
1941  Congeroo Dancers appear in Hellzapoppin'.                    Whitey's Lindy Hoppers appear in Hot Chocolate ("Cottontail") with Duke Ellington.
1943  Inducted into Army. Serves in New Guinea, the Philippines, and Japan.
1947  FM's new group, the Congaroo Dancers, debuts at Roxy Theatre.
1948  Four Congaroos appear in Killer Diller.
1955  Disbands the Congaroo Dancers.
          Goes to work for the U.S. Postal Service.
1958  Savoy Ballroom closes.
1986  Begins teaching career by agreeing to work with Erin Stevens and Steven Mitchell.
1987  Retires from the post office.
1989  Wins Tony Award for Best Choreography for Black and Blue with Cholly Atkins, Henry LeTang, and Fayard Nicholas.
1992  Serves as consultant/performer in Spike Lee's film Malcolm X.
          Serves as assistant choreographer/performer with Norma Miller in Debbie
          Allen's Stompin' at the Savoy.
1994  Receives NEA Choreographers' Fellowship.
1999  Performs in PBS special, Swinging' with Duke, featuring the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis.
2000  Receives NEA National Heritage Fellowship.
          Appears in Ken Burns's documentary, Jazz.
2007    Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop is published.

Frankie Manning: ‘Ambassador of the Lindy Hop’, 1914-2009. click here Accessed May 17, 2009.
 

http://frankie95.com/frankieweek.php Accessed May 17, 2009.

www.frankiemanning.com Accessed May 18, 2009.

HSDS is the Houston Swing Dance Society  www.hsds.org

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