Last week’s answer

Shorty Snowden and his partner Big Bea had a signature step where he would go back-to-back with her, lift her up and carry her off the floor. Sometimes she would carry him off. Frankie Manning and Frieda Washington were inspired by this move when they created the “Over the Back”. He described it as “she’s back to back with me and I flip her over my back and she lands on her feet in front of me. So we call it over-the-back because that’s the trajectory she takes. She comes over my back and lands in the front” (City Arts, “The Uncut Interview with Frankie Manning”). They perfomed this airstep for the first time in public during a competition at the Savoy.

Congratulations to Thane Walkup and Mike Roberts for finding last week’s answer. And for those of you who haven’t read Frankie’s autobiography, I highly recommend purchasing it: Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop. There are many hidden historical gems, including the chapter where he describes how they came up with the first airstep, and what happened that night when they pulled it off at the Savoy.

This Week’s Tuesday Trivia Question: Top dance band of 1940 on Billboard magazine

The Billboard Advertising magazine, most well known today for its music charts, originally covered bill posting. In subsequent years, it added outdoor entertainment, and then motion pictures and radio, before dedicating itself to the music industry.

Who topped the Billboard magazine top ten dance bands for 1940? As a bonus, name the top 3.

Know the answer? Let everyone know and comment.

Filed Under: Dance Trivia | Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Last Week’s Answer

The Savoy Ballroom. During 33 years of existence, over 250 top
bands played the Savoy, including Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman and
Cab Calloway. One night actress Lana Tuner called it the “Home of
Happy Feet”, and the nickname stuck.

And yes, it was also known as “The Track” because of its early use for dog racing. Congratulations to Eddie, Aleix and Kait for each finding part of the answer.

We’re overwhelmingly happy with the interest in our Tuesday Trivia, thank you readers! Note that we do research these trivia questions/answers, but by no means do we presume to know everything - we will make mistakes along the way. So please share with us if and when you find an inaccurate statement. Thank you Terry Monaghan for sharing your research with us on the Harvest Moon Ball answer.

This Week’s Tuesday Trivia Question: The First Lindy Hop Airstep

1. What was Shorty Snowden and his partner Big Bea’s signature show
step for competitions?
2. What was the first airstep associated with Lindy Hop executed in a
dance contest? and who were the creators of this step?

Know the answer? Let everyone know and comment.

Filed Under: Dance Trivia | Tuesday, January 27th, 2009

Last Week’s Answer

The Harvest Moon Ball. The first event was originally
scheduled in 1927 in New York’s Central Park. However, an estimated
75,000 people showed up causing disorganization and confusion so the
contest was postponed. The first official Harvest Moon Ball took place
in 1935 in Madison Square Garden and lasted until 1984.

Collegiate Shag was featured at the Harvest Moon Ball in 1937 and 1938.

Thanks Poke Alex for the correct answer and Thane Walkup for the bonus question answer.

This Week’s Tuesday Trivia Question

“Upon entering… you climbed two mirrored flights of marble steps until you found yourself in a teeming crowd at the middle of a block-long dance floor. Directly opposite a raised double bandstand gleamed with instruments and one of two bands was up there in full swing. My first impression was that I had stepped into a different world. I had been to other ballrooms but this was different - much bigger, more glamor, real class.”

Which ballroom was Leon James referring to in this quote?

Bonus: what was it’s nickname and who originally gave it this name?

Know the answer?  Let everyone know and comment.

Filed Under: Dance Trivia | Tuesday, January 20th, 2009

Lindybloggers is happy to announce our second new weekly column: Tuesday Trivia.

Tuesday Trivia is a weekly trivia question about the history of jazz dance and music.  We encourage everyone and anyone who knows the answer to post it up under the comments section - even if it means googling it or looking it up on Wikipedia.  The first person to post up the correct answer will get a mention in the following Tuesday Trivia.

This Week’s Tuesday Trivia Question

Name the best-known amateur dance competition in the United States in the 1930’s. As a bonus, name what years a Collegiate Shag division was featured in this competition.

Know the answer?  Let everyone know and comment.

Filed Under: Dance Trivia | Tuesday, January 13th, 2009