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| The King of LindyHop Frankie Manning |
**This is my personal notes to the Book "Swing Dance by Scout Cupit", summarizing the useful bit for me only
LINDY HOP
A dance originated in the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, New York, in the late 1920s. It was a legendary ballroom where black and white swing dancers could share their passion for music and dance. Lindy Hop gained huge popularity during the swing music era but this fell away once rock'n'roll and the undanceable Behop became fashionable.
The dancers who created the Lindy Hop were influenced by other dancers of the era, such as the Black Bottom and the Charleston, and they developed it alongside the changing sound of jazz and swing.
Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, founded by the Savoy's Herbert "Whitey White, was the foremost Lindy Hop troupe that still sets the benchmark today. Whitey had the vision to round the best dancers at the Savoy Ballroom- Frankie Manning among them- into an amazing collective energy that caught the attention of both Hollywood and the media. The Lindy Hop evolved over several years and no single person seems responsible for its development. Different theories exist about the origin of the term 'Lindy Hop' but perhaps the most agreeable story would be that a journalist coined the term 'Lindbergh Hop' when referring to a dance marathon in New York in 1927- Charles Lindbergh's historic nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic in his monoplane!
The dance is also know a the Jitterbug, it was a nickname for the Lindy Hop back in 2002 but it was offensive to black dancers since the term was used in a derogatory way to describe the black dancers, who were presumed to have been drinking and so had the 'jitters'.
Influential Hollywood Films having the Whitey's Lindy Hoppers appearances:
1. A Day at the Races (1937)
2. Radio City Reveals (1938)
3. Hellzapoppin' (1941)
Influential Swing Dancers in the Lindy Hop Time:
- Frankie Manning
- Norma Miller
Despite Lindy Hop's overwhelming popularity in the early twentieth century, ballrooms still had financial pressures and hiring big bands became a luxury. This, and the advent of Roc'n'Roll, spelt the end of the magical swing era. The likes of Bill Haley and Elvis Presley introduced a new sound, and though swing dancing lived on, it was no longer the popular choice.
Popular Tunes
1. Shiny Stockings, Count Basie
2. Shufflin' and 'Rollin', Buddy Johnson & His Orchestra
3. Jumpin' at the Worldwide, Lester Young
4. Flying Home, Lionel Hampton
5. Take the 'A' Train, Duke Ellington
6. Lindy Hopper's Delight, Chick Webb
7. Bugle Call Rag, Benny Goodman
8. Opus No 1, Tommy Dorsey
9. The Fox Ray, Anthony
10. All of Me, Gordon Webster
Posture
The Lindy Hop has a low yet strong posture. Low doesn't mean slouching.
Fill your lungs with air, put your shoulders back and ensure your chest is not facing the floor. It's a sporty posture that looks as if you are ready to do something that requires balance and agility, and in fact, it does require your best balance and agility.
Rhythm
8 count
SS Q&Q, SS Q&Q
part 3 - Personal notes about SWING - Balboa
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