This video was compiled for a memorial dance at the Jam Cellar in Washington DC.

Filed Under: Dance Community, Dancer Interviews | Thursday, April 30th, 2009

We all knew it would come some day. And, likely someday soon. After all, he is was no longer the spry and lively 87-year-old he once was. But why now? Only a month before his 95th birthday festival? With so many Lindy Hoppers still needing to look at him and remember what it’s all about? When we simply weren’t ready to let him go? (We’d never really be ready, unless he was in pain.)

If you’re reading this today, you’re a very special person. You are a part of the last generation of Lindy Hoppers who will have danced during the time of Frankie Manning. So, hopefully you had the opportunity to take a class where he addressed all the women in the room as “the beautiful ladies,” or stood behind him in a shim-sham, or saw a smile blossom on his face, which all have a similar effect.

If you don’t know who he is, his dance resume is pretty incredible. He introduced air steps, the “bent over look,” and women’s swivels into Lindy Hop, along with countless other moves we still do today. He was known as the biggest thief in the Savoy Ballroom, stealing moves and changing them before anyone would realize he had done it. He choreographed the greatest group Lindy Hop footage we have. And he taught the world to Lindy Hop, even in his eighties and nineties. But the important thing about Frankie Manning is how these accomplishments pale in comparison to the person you met when you shook hands with him.

Here was a man who performed across the world and talked to kings and queens, at a time when only well-off white Americans could afford air travel, and black men from Harlem were hardly ever thought worthy to shake hands with anyone of a different color. Here was a man who worked in a post office for 3 decades when the dance and the music he loved couldn’t support him anymore, and without a complaint. Here was a man who had his own share of personal problems, on top of all the social problems he faced, and yet, when you saw him smile, it was as if he hadn’t a care in the world. When you met Frankie Manning, you didn’t just see a great dancer. You saw a great man.

Before a few days ago, I often joked that Frankie was a benevolent godlike-being who was slowly having his body parts replaced with stronger, longer-lasting robotic ones. It was part of a childlike fantasy that I’ve allowed myself to actually believe—that perhaps Frankie would outlive us all. He already seemed younger than most people I know—he laughed the way an eight-year-old boy would, and giggled about women. He even swung-out young. He would bow to the queen, scrunch his shoulders and send her out with a smile. No pretension. No trying. No worries.

But the past few times I’ve seen him in public, I’d notice his mouth would sag into a frown, and his eyes looked heavy. At his age, even if you’re in the best of health, it seems like the secret is to avoid finding yourself in a hospital bed. But that’s a really hard thing to do. Medications and illness are unavoidable, and trying to fix the smallest things can easily become deadly to a 94-year-old. It had nothing to do with his birthday party, I tell myself, it was nothing we had control over.

I also have to keep reminding myself that death is only sorrowful for those who miss the dead. For the dead, it is probably some form of sweet, deep sleep. Though Frankie smiled like he didn’t have a care in the world, I suspect he had many cares. There is some form of peace in knowing that he does not have those worries anymore. And, if the deaths that are the least painful to us are those who have lived a life full of love, joy, great experiences and great accomplishments, I can’t think of a better candidate than Frankie Manning.

In France and England, the death of a king was heralded with the phrase “Le Roi est Mort. Vive le Roi!” or “The King is Dead. Long Live the King.” What seems like a spiritual contradiction was really simply a political statement: Once one king was dead, the heir to the throne immediately became king, so that no country was never for a moment without it’s rightful ruler. I however, prefer the spiritual contradiction. The King of Lindy Hop died April 27. But his spirit will live forever in those who know how to swing.

Frankie, we miss you already, and we really can’t thank you enough. Hopefully we can repay you by carrying on not just your dance, but your attitude, with us always. Sleep well.

Filed Under: Dance Community, Dance History | Tuesday, April 28th, 2009

This morning Frankie Manning passed away peacefully.

Frankie Manning has been an inspiration to us all and the outpouring of love from the community in these past few days is amazing.  Many people are sharing their stories of Frankie on Facebook and elsewhere.  Please feel free to leave your memories here as well.

I’ve done my part.  Now it’s your turn. A one… a two… you know what to do…

Frankie Manning

Tonight swingout for Frankie.

Filed Under: Dance Community, Lindybloggers | Monday, April 27th, 2009
Tags: ambassador of lindy hop, frankie manning, lindy hop, memories, passing, rip

From all of us at Lindybloggers we send our best wishes and love to Frankie Manning.

Here is the announcement from the Frankie 95 team on Frankie’s health.  Please send him your love and wishes so that we can ring in his 95th birthday with him at the front smiling that amazing smile.

Dear Friends of Frankie,

As you might have heard, Frankie entered the hospital a week and a half ago, due to problems with his medication. Then on Friday, he was taken into the intensive care unit after he developed pneumonia. It is a very serious situation.

Although he cannot talk or move his limbs, he recognizes people and responds to their messages of caring and love. Throughout all of this, his spirit remains strong and his family and close friends are with him.

Please take some time during your day to send Frankie healing energy, prayers and love, and tell everyone you know to do the same. You can also send him a personal note of encouragement here:

Frankie Manning, PO Box 737648 , Elmhurst NY 11373

Frankie needs our support!

Of course, we will keep you all updated as his condition changes.

The Frankie 95 Team

Please e-mail this on to your friends, so we can help spread the love, who may not see it on Facebook or read it here.

Filed Under: Dance Community, Lindybloggers | Sunday, April 26th, 2009
Tags: 95th birthday, frankie 95, frankie manning, health, love

Hi everyone, the Lindybloggers team is taking a short hiatus while we plant flowers for spring. New song of the week, Tuesday Trivia and other articles will be up next week.

In the meantime, check out Ben Yau’s http://iamlindyhop.com/ and don’t forget to purchase your Frankie95 commemorative greeting wish. Deadline is this Thursday April 23rd.

Filed Under: Lindybloggers | Tuesday, April 21st, 2009

Bobby “Extremely” White is currently in the middle of P90X, a 90-day work-out regimen that’s growing popularity with swing dance instructors. Each week, he reviews one of the programs 12 exercises, and gives an update on how it’s going and where it hurts.

The second month of P90X goes like this: Day 1: Shoulders, Chest and Triceps, Day 2: Plyometrics, Day 3: Biceps and Back, Day 4: Yoga, Day 5: Legs, Day 6: Kempo (a martial-art type cardio workout), and Day 7: Lying in the fetal position, whimpering (rest day).

DAY 42

I’ve made a huge mistake. Well, not huge, my Other Personal Trainer, Nick Williams tells me. In fact, he seems to think I’ll be fine. Let me explain; when I originally undertook P90X, I decided to only do the workouts and concentrate on the protein regiment, not messing with the intricate meal plan, which requires experience working with NASA. The book, of course, tells you that the meal plan is a CRUCIAL part of P90X; and I’m afraid my results aren’t near as good as they’d be if I had done the meal plan.

P90X veteran and Lindy Hop Champion Nick Williams, however, thinks I’m overreacting, and he’s never really followed the meal plan to a T either and gotten great results. That said, however, I’ve started cooking. Don’t worry, I won’t force you to eat any of it.

First off, the power bars are simply too annoying to eat more than two of them in a day. So, I’ve dug through the nutrition guide, and chosen two meals I can easily cook and stomach, with the intent of eating them a lot. Here they are, and I have to say, I’m very pleased with my choices. They don’t taste like much, but what little they do taste is good and my body likes them a lot more than protein bars.

CHICKEN SCRAMBLE. One can of chicken, a bowl of egg whites, and vegan Italian cheese. Stir and fry. Serves 1,803.

“SAUSAGE” “BISCUIT”. One veggie sausage patty (Morning Star Maple Flavored Sausage is my choice), one whole grain English Muffin. Combine in whatever way you feel necessary. (more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Trends | Friday, April 17th, 2009

Today’s song of the week comes to us from Lucy Falkner, founder of Rhythm City in Vancouver, Canada. Lucy has taught Charleston, Vintage Jazz, Lindy Hop, and Blues across Canada and the Pacific Northwest, and at the world-famous Herräng Dance Camp, in Sweden.

I had a difficult time choosing my song of the week. I set aside about 12 songs and listened to them incessantly for a week, vacillating between this one and that one as the one to choose. In the end, I went with my original choice, “Keep the Rhythm Going,” by The Mills Blue Rhythm Band.

Some songs make me want to swing out hard and do lots of big swingy long and loose movements, and some songs make me want to do lots of fussy and complex shapes and rhythms. This one gives me good doses of both. I love songs that build in energy, have strong rhythm, and a lot of texture (what some people think of as layers). Plus, I like chewy trumpet (that’s the best way I have to describe that particular sound). I guess I use food and eating metaphors a lot with regard to music. Never noticed that before. Well, then this song feeds me, but like a good appetizer: it leaves me wanting more. You can purchase this song from Amazon MP3 Download’s here: Keep The Rhythm Going.

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Song: “Keep The Rhythm Going”
Musicians: Mills Blue Rhythm Band
Album: Chronological Classics, 1933-1934

Personnel (for the album, not sure about the song)
Baron Lee, Lucky Millinder, leader
Wardell Jones, Eddie Mallory, Sheldon Hemphill, Ed Anderson, tpt
George Washington, arr, tbn
Henry Hicks, J.C. Higginbotham, tbn
Crawford Wethington, sax
Gene Mikell, cl, sax
Joe Garland, cl, sax, arr
Edgar Hayes, p
Benny James, bjo, g
Hayes Alvis, b, brass b
O’Neil Spencer, d
Adelaide Hall, Chuck Richards, voc
Lawrence Lucie, g
Elmer James, b
Alex Hill, arr

Thanks Lucy! You can find her teaching and judging this weekend at Lindybout, the Lindy Hop Championships in Western Canada.

Filed Under: Dance Community, Lindybloggers, Song of the Week | Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

I came across this creative video today. A Hula version of the Shim Sham performed in San Francisco. Choreography by Erin & Julia (video by Cianna).

From the youtube description about bringing the hula & lindy hop together:

Many traditional hula celebrate and pay homage to those who have preserved and promoted the dance and culture. Other hula tell about those who inspire the dancers. The motions of hula are part of a storytelling tradition that is beautiful to watch while it preserves history.

Both hula and swing are living dances, reflecting a range of influences on a base of structured forms. As women who met through Lindy Hop and are now studying hula in the same San Francisco halau, we wanted to pay tribute to one of our main inspirations in swing dancing, Frankie Manning, in a fun, unexpected way. Plus, of course, we are from the Bay Area, and you know that we like to mix things up a little here.

Filed Under: Upcoming Events | Friday, April 10th, 2009

Sheet Music; "My Biggest Hit," says Goodman.

One of my favorite tunes to dance to has always been Don’t Be That Way. It’s often associated with Benny Goodman, since he is the one that brought it to the masses. The original, however, was composed by Edgar Sampson and first recorded by Chick Webb in 1934. I think (at least for me) part of the confusion on this tune came from an apocryphal scene in The Benny Goodman Story, a mediocre film from 1956 starring Steve Allen in the title role. At one point late in the movie, someone tells him they need to announce the title of the song they’re about to play. He replies (and I’m paraphrasing here) “Everyone’s always telling me, ‘Benny, don’t be that way,’ so that’s what I’m going to call this new tune.” I haven’t seen the film in years, but I remember thinking the delivery was robotic and I disbelieved the story immediately. What I didn’t realize was that it wasn’t even his tune.

The real story is that Edgar Sampson composed Don’t Be That Way for Rex Stewart’s band in 1933.¹ Unfortunately they did not record the tune, and that same year Sampson left Stewart to join Chick Webb’s band. This was a very prolific time for him; it was the same time period he composed such classics as Stompin’ at the Savoy, Let’s Get Together, and Blue Lou. Only later would Benny Goodman make Sampson’s creations worldwide hits.

Mitchell Parish, who also wrote the lyrics of Sweet Lorraine, Stars Fell on Alabama, and Stardust, put words to the tune a few years later in 1937 . There are relatively few recordings that include the lyrics, perhaps because the melody is somewhat difficult to sing.²

Here are some of my favorite recordings of Don’t Be That Way that showcase its versatility, through a number of styles and tempos. (more…)

Filed Under: Recorded Music Reviews | Friday, April 10th, 2009

Bobby “Extremely” White is currently in the middle of P90X, a 90-day work-out regimen that’s growing popularity with swing dance instructors. Each week, he reviews one of the programs 12 exercises, and gives an update on how it’s going and where it hurts. Read last week’s post here: “F**** G*** D**** Yoga Day AGAIN?!?!?”.

Since I have finished the first month, this week begins the second month, which introduces two new upper body workouts, but otherwise keeps the same schedule as the first three weeks of the program.

Day 1: Shoulders, Chest and Triceps Day 2: Plyometrics, Day 3: Back and Biceps, Day 4: Yoga, Day 5: Legs and Back, Day 6: Kempo (a martial-art type cardio workout), and Day 7: Lying in the fetal position, whimpering (rest day).

DAY 35

In many ways, I think the second month can be the hardest part of P90X because of motivation—you might be seeing your first results, but the novelty of working out is wearing off; and for me, a continuous string of weekend workshopss has made it particularly difficult to balance everything.

The first month is officially over, and my results are good, but not incredible. There are a few reasons I can think of why; First off, perhaps I’m not eating as much protein as I should be, though I do eat every few hours when possible. (And, as I’ll mention more next week, perhaps my eating is just off, period). Another reason is perhaps I am just getting used to the exercises and, though I feel like I’m bringing it now, it will take a while of bringing it to get to the good results. Finally, perhaps I am simply expecting too much too fast. It’s HARD to get into incredible shape, and it takes time. (more…)

Filed Under: Dance Advice | Thursday, April 9th, 2009