Silver Shadows pay tribute to Frankie Manning at his 95th birthday celebration on May 23, 2009 in New York City. The dancers are Skye Humphries, Friday Segerdahl, Todd Yannacone, Naomi Uyama, Peter Strom, Ramona Staffeld, Andy Reid and Nina Gilkenson. Visit http://frankie95.com for the official DVD and event information.

Filed Under: Event Reviews | by Alain Wong | Comments

Andrew Thigpen (Atlanta, GA), creator of the Lindy Calendar, gives us a review of the Canadian Swing Championships (CSC 2009) this past weekend.

He’ll be our guest emcee and will also be teaching with dance partner Karen Turman at the Cat’s Corner 11th anniversary in Montreal on Halloween weekend Oct.30 - Nov.1st, 2009. Thanks Andrew!

Filed Under: Dancer Interviews, Event Reviews | by Alain Wong | Comments (2)

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.

Since I have finished the first three weeks of my second month, this week is a “recovery week,” which, if you remember, is only called a recovery week to trick you into actually pushing play on the Core Synergistics workout. We’ll talk about that workout today.

Day 1: Core Synergistics , Day 2: Yoga, Day 3: Stretch, Day 4: Yoga, Day 5: Core Synergistics, Day 6: Kempo (a martial-art type cardio workout), and Day 7: Lying in the fetal position, whimpering (rest day).

DAY 56

While in my second month of P90X, I was at Boston Tea Party, where a group of fellow p90Xers spent probably a half hour at the midnight breakfast buffet talking about p90x and boring onlookers. Among the group were Nick Williams, Mickey Pedroza, Dave and Kim, and myself. We discussed the women in the video we think Tony wants to make out with, the exercises we love or hate, the recovery drink, and techniques for working out.

Though it had to be totally the most inane conversation for anyone else in the area to be a part of, it got me really pumped up to workout the next day, and to vent about all the things I’ve been thinking and feeling throughout this process. I was inspired by those who had done the program, and hope, in turn, I said something that inspired those in the group who were just starting. It reminded me of how great it is to share something like this with someone. P90X involves things I’m beginning to love, things I hate, things I’m proud of, things I’m new to, things I can’t understand. It’s changing me, both physically and mentally. And somehow, cracking silly workout jokes with friends is reflective of a great feeling of community. I work out alone, in a small room, where all my struggles and personal battles take place. But I’m not alone. And that gives me strength to go back and struggle more. Read more »

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Trends | by Robert White | Comments

Straight from our hotel room at the Canadian Swing Championships, this week’s song was picked by one of my favorite social dancers, Alice Mei.

The song is Hallelujah Joe Ain’t Preachin’ No More by Harlem Hamfats. You can purchase it off Amazon.com. Merci Alice!

Filed Under: Lindybloggers, Song of the Week | by Alain Wong | Comments (2)

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 the previous post (week 6) here.

DAY 49

The second month of P90X goes like this: Day 1: Shoulders, Chest and Triceps, Day 2: Plyometrics, Day 3: Arms, 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).

I wonder a lot these days if movies and television have wired my generation to think that things come easier than they actually do. Every guy is destined to meet that quirky, witty girl, who also happens to have a perfect body. That promotion is just a bold risk and charismatic smile away. Or, think of the training montage, for instance. In almost any sport or martial arts movie, like Rocky 1 through 13, half of the movie is spent with a down-on-his-luck hero getting kicked around by the enemy, and finally deciding that it’s time to stick up for himself. Then a five minute 80s song plays while we see our hero get stronger, pump iron, drink raw eggs, download all he ever needed to know about kong fu through a portal in the back of his head, and perfect the crane kick. Read more »

Filed Under: Dance Advice, Trends | by Robert White | Comments (3)

Song: Wham
Album: 1944 Uncollected - Live at Jefferson Barracks
Artist: Jimmie Lunceford and His Harlem Express
Words and music: Eddie Durham/Joseph Taps Miller (1939)

I first heard about this Lunceford album from a subtle post by Andy Reid on SwingDJs.

The album on CD was, and is still, ridiculously cheap, so that was an easy pick up.  I was drawn to this album by a mention of a hot recording of For Dancers Only, and it was worth it — great recording.  But I was also taken with this recording of Wham.

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Recorded in 1944 at a military barracks in Missouri, this album is a great archive of a big band playing live for dancers.  Unlike studio transcriptions and radio only broadcasts, dance performances typically have more life and zest to them.  Let’s face it, I’d rather be dancing to a great live band than to canned music, but if I must dance to recorded music, I love to dance to a great band that was playing for dancers. Side note: check out “The Duke at Fargo” for another great dance performance album.
Read more »

Filed Under: Song of the Week | by Alain Wong | Comments (3)

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

Filed Under: Dance Community, Dancer Interviews | by Alain Wong | Comments (1)

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 | by Robert White | Comments (6)

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 | by Carl Nelson | Comments (2)
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 | by Carl Nelson | Comments (2)
Tags: 95th birthday, frankie 95, frankie manning, health, love