Frankie Manning:Ambassador of Lindy Hop by Frankie Manning and Cynthia R. Millman
Temple University Press, 2007
The autobiography of a legendary swing dancer
— who is still swinging!
"A poet of the dance floor. This book is a must read for anyone who loves the dance, amateur or professional.
What a life he has lived, and thank God he remembers it all!" -
Bette Midler, student and fan
"
On behalf of all of the Hoofer's, we thank you and salute you for every
moment of truth, love and dedication
translated to us all through your art form, your dance. Thank you Frankie Manning. I Love You!" - Savion
Glover
Book Description
In the early days of swing dancing, Frankie Manning stood out for his moves and his innovative routines; he created the "air step" in the Lindy hop, a dance that took the U.S. and then the world by storm. In this fascinating autobiography, the choreographer and Tony Award winner (Black and Blue) Frankie Manning recalls how his first years of dancing as a teenager at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom led to his becoming chief choreographer and a lead dancer for "Whitey's Lindy Hoppers," a group that appeared on Broadway, in Hollywood musicals, and on stages around the globe. Manning brings the Swing Era vividly back to life with his recollections of the crowded ballrooms, and of Lindy hoppers trying to outdo each other in spectacular performances. His memories of the many headliners and film stars, as well as uncelebrated dancers with whom he shared the stage, create a unique portrait of an era in which African American performers enjoyed the spotlight if not a star's prerogatives and salary.With co-author Cynthia R. Millman, Manning traces the evolution of swing dancing from its early days in Harlem through the post-World War II period, until it was eclipsed by rock 'n' roll and then disco. When swing made a comeback, Manning's 30-year hiatus ended. He has been performing, choreographing, and teaching ever since.
313 pages; 37 illustrations; EAN: 978-1-59213-563-9; ISBN: 1592135633
Reviews
"Dance writer and swing dancer Millman conducted extensive interviews with Manning for a vivid account of his
career. . . . the first-person accounts of Manning's life capture his vibrancy, humor and charm . . . this vivid
memoir by one of swing dancing's innovators and stars is a must for lovers of dance, jazz and African-American
history." - Publishers Weekly
"Dancer/librarian Millman calls Manning 'a prime innovator of the Lindy' and captures the sensation of the
lindy
hop (a.k.a. the jitterbug). Manning's personality comes across via his vivid descriptions of dance contests, the
excitement of choreographing, and the lindy's decline and revival. He also discusses the racism he faced in the
U.S. Army during World War II and while on tour. . . . This is an interesting and significant piece of the swing
dance record valuable for its oral history." - Library
Journal
Contents
Foreword: Mercedes Ellington Frankie Manning: An Appreciation by Cynthia R. Millman Acknowledgments Prologue: Too Stiff PART ONE: FIRST STEPS (1914-circa 1933) Chapter 1. Jazz Baby Chapter 2. Early Ballroom Forays PART TWO: SAVOY DANCER (circa 1933-1936) Chapter 3. To the Savoy at Last Chapter 4. Whitey, Shorty, and Stretch Chapter 5. Win Win Chapter 6. Up in the Air She Goes PART THREE: WHITEY'S LINDY HOPPERS (1936-1943) Chapter 7. Going Pro Chapter 8. Big Time at the Cotton Club Chapter 9. A Big Apple for Whitey Chapter 10. On Broadway and In the Movies Chapter 11. Down Rio Way PART FOUR: WAR AND HOME (1943-1984) Chapter 12. Dancer Interrupted Chapter 13. The Congaroo Dancers and a Day Job PART FIVE: SECOND ACT (1984-2007) Chapter 14. Revival APPENDIXES A. Frankie Manning Timeline B. Biographical Sketches of Lindy Hoppers C. Swing Dance Resources Libraries and Archives Websites Frankie.s List of Swing Dance on Film/TV Swing Dancing Around the World NOTES SOURCES
About the Authors
 Photo credit: Nancy Elliott |
Lindy hopper Frankie Manning won a 1989 Tony Award for his choreography in Black and
Blue, and
was honored by
the National Endowment for the Arts with a National Heritage Fellowship. He served as a consultant for and danced in Spike
Lee's Malcolm X and Debbie Allen's Stompin' at the Savoy. Frankie's choreographic contributions to the lindy,
his professional dance career with Whitey's Lindy Hoppers and the Congaroo Dancers, and his vital role in the swing dance
revival have been widely chronicled in the media (including an interview in Ken Burns.s Jazz and a profile on ABC.s
20/20). Now in his nineties, Frankie travels the world teaching the lindy hop and sharing his riveting memories of
dancing through the ages. |
 Photo credit: Lauren Simpson |
Cynthia R. Millman taught dance and performed for over twenty-five years, including five years with the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers. She holds one master's degree in dance and dance education, and another in library science. Cynthia has studied and partnered with Frankie, and lectures with him on the history of the lindy. A librarian at The Town School in Manhattan, she has contributed articles to Dance Magazine and The International Encyclopedia of Dance, and has served as a dance consultant on several documentaries. |
To Order the Book
SavoyStyle Swing Dance Shop (for copies signed by Frankie Manning)www.swingdanceshop.com
Temple University Press
www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1877_reg.html
To Sell the Book at Your Event
Contact Ann-Marie Anderson (ask about the seller's discount)Marketing Director
Temple University Press
anderson@temple.edu
And please consider asking your local bookstore to stock the book.