Article on Swing and Spirituality
I recently read an article by Mark Judge on his discovery and exploration of the world of swing dancing. The article touches on some swing dance history as well as the concepts of flow, social dance as leveler, and the joy of learning. The article is called The Home of Happy Feet: An Essay on Swing Dancing, Spirituality and the American Dream. You can find it on http://www.jitterbuzz.com or by clicking here.
Enjoy!
Frankie Manning: News
Frankie Manning passed away yesterday, April 27, 2009, at the age of 94. Frankie was one of the original Savoy Lindy hoppers who was one of the major movers and shakers in the development of the Lindy hop as it is known today. He started teaching during the swing dance revival of the 80s and was teaching nationally and internationally all the way through his remaining years. He also served the United States during World War II. Frankie was known for his passion for dancing, his enthusiasm for teaching and sharing, and his personality, humor, and energy. Frankie’s autobiography, Frankie Manning: Ambassador of the Lindy Hop, was published in 2007 with the help of co-author Cynthia Millman. Coincidentally, I read this book just this past week and finished it the day before he died. You can find a review of the book on Joy in Motion soon, but please don’t wait to check it out. It is a beautiful book with great insight into the development of the Lindy hop and the personality and character of one of America’s greatest dance legends.
Condolences to Frankie’s family and friends. To make a donation to the Frankie Manning Fund, please visit www.frankiemanning.com.
Check out these videos of Frankie Manning dancing. The first one is from the 1941 movie Hellzapoppin. The second one is Frankie dancing with Sylvia Sykes in 2006. Enjoy!
