Hoppin' Birthday, Frankie!
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Hoppin' Birthday, Frankie! We Love You! Who's that cat? Why, it's the young Frankie Manning with partner Ann Johnson, in action at Big George's Restaurant in Corona, NY. Sketch by Porl Smith, based on an unattributed (boo, hiss, shame on those responsible) photo from the cover of Jookin', The Rise of Social Dance Formations in African-American Culture by Katrine Hazzard-Gordon. Inside Frankie-isms: The Defining of a Lindy Legend Ernie Smith paints a word portrait of our Man of the Month (page 4) The.London Scene There's a lot happening in the London dance scene ... (page JO) Spotlight on The .Big Apple Lindy Hoppers A troupe in the home of the Lindy Hop {page 6) The Secret . of Life Margaret Batiuchok shares experiences of Frankie (page 12) New York, New York Where it all began - what's happening today. (page 3) The Feet Dance - And Sometimes the Heart Dances With Them More of Frankie's stories... (page 8) and more... ©1993 Dancing Star Productions except where held by author {noted). All rights reserved. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying. recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the Publisher. Editorial Hoppin' Spring '94 Letters to (and from) the Editor Dear Reader: around the world supporting and contributing to There's a lot happening around the world in this newsletter and the continuation of Lindy. I Lindy. As we went to press, we heard of an think I speak for all Hoppin' readers in express Hoppin' up-surge of interest in the LA area � new ing gratitude to all contributors. We each have Swing clubs opened and more likely to open. our own interests and talents, and there is Hoppin' is now truly international,with our enough room in the world of Lindy for all of us. Publisher and Editor: firstAsian subscriber and listings. And interest If you have a talent or idea to contribute, go for Deborah Huisken in the up-coming CAN'T TOP THE LINDY it! HOP birth-day celebration is as much in Lindy Here's to all of us putting aside our International Correspondent: as in Frankie Manning himself - some differences in New York to celebrate the 80th Rob van Haaren registrants didn'.t even know who Frankie was! birthday of a very special man who's spent the The down side is, in the last issue we better part of those 80 years living that dance. Writers: inadvertently included some inaccurate Paris Such dedication and passion deserve Margaret Batiuchok, Deborah Huisken, Porl club information. Some people were upset that recognition. Let's celebrate the dance that has Smith, Ernie Smith. all their performances and activities weren't meant so much in Frankie's life and in the lives listed, others perceived Hoppin' tO be biased in of others, many of whom he's touched directly. Additional Contributions: favourof one group or person ot another. For the rest of it, to paraphraseFloyd Striegel at John Brooks, Jeanefer Jean-Charles, Carol Hoppin' aims to be by, for, and about the the end of our last phone con-versation, "forget Clark, Monica Coe, Tricia Darnell, Eileen Lindy community. We work tO be as complete the bullshit, Feeney, Jan Forsell, James Hamilron, and unbiased as possible. We include every Have fun, and Richard Harris, Fred Hunt, Craig thing for which we have space and which we keep dancing." Hutchinson, Frankie Manning, Ellen Miller, think is of interest to our international Cynthia Millman, Julie Oram, Odella audience. Schattin, Simon Selmon, Porl Smith, Rob van There are a lot of talented, energetic people Haaren, Lennart Westerlund, Chester Whitmore, Valerie Wilson. Cristobel at Dear Hoppin' Wayzgoose Typesetters; Phil at Abceda .. .I feel I must point out a typographical Every movement of the hips, of the body, is an General Printers. error in my article on Paris. Due to our attitude, expressive of the lives they were Jiving misunder-standing on the 'phone, the credit then. Editorial Assistance: for the map should be attributed to The Night --Jeanefer Jean-Charles Simon Bell, Becky Crane Club Map of HARLEM, and not Holland! I London, UK guess it was an easy mistake considering what .feanefe1· · We agree - that's part of the reason Consultant: a cosmopolitan publication Hoppin' is. we' re writing this newsletter. Thanks for affir Christian Batchelor E.S. Campbell was a prolific cartoonist and ming our sense of an integral part of this dance. illustrator for Esquire in the '30s, and probably Distribution: the best friend of Cab Calloway. He produced Dear Hoppin' Managers: Lennart Westerlund, Sweden; at least one drawing a day, and the map is Do other teachers exist in France? We have Nancy Sandburg, USA. Masters: Patricia typical of his style. As far as I know, h.e spent the passion to become good Lindy Hop dancers. Brennan, Melinda Comeau, Freddie very little time in Holland! I also teach tap dance and rock 'n roll [which I Haugan, Craig Hutchinson, Sing Lim, Yours, Porl Smith have done] for 10 years, but I have found new Cyrilla Smith, Porl Smith, Rob van Haaren, London, UK motivation with Lindy. Chester Whitmore. Commercial: Dance Port - I wondered that there was so much I hope to see you soon, Franck Balbin Books Ltd. Subscriptions: Caroline Cole, swinging acth·ity in Holland ·in the 40s· - so Lyon, FRANCE Fred Hunt Marcus Koch, Beckie much for that article idea! 1hank you for Franck - You may he in luck. Richard Dixon, Menckhoff, Erin Stevens, Tim the DJ. pointing out the mistake with such tact. Ed. an accomplished Lindy Hopper. has recently moved 10 Southem France (see Lindy Listings). Submissions: Dear Hoppin' His energy and enthusiasm for the dance will, Submissions 10 Hoppin', c/o Dancing Star ...Hoppin' is a great idea... I'm sure, match yours. Ed. Productions, at our NEW ADDRESS! P.O. Kurt Bieller & Regina Smith Box 6008, London W2 5ZY UK. phone Vienna, AUSTRIA Dear Hoppin' +44 71 221 8331. Deadline for Summer I've been meaning to write to you since I saw issue: July I, 1994. Dear Hoppin' the first copy of Hoppin•, to tell you what a fabulous job you did on it. It was very informa Advertising: I was thinking about the article [in the Winter issue] on Norma Miller the other day. tive, and definitely filled a need. Simon Bell, Judy Martin, Angela Andrew,. It occurred to me that to understand Lindy, it's I like the truly international flavor of Hoppin', Editorial calendar, rates, and deadlines imponant to read the stories about that time, to and it was really interesting to read. Nice available on request from Hoppin' (see imagine what it was like to be alittle girl, layout, typeface, etc. too. Submissions above). moving every month, watching her mother go Good luck with future issues. I sincerely wish through those difficulties. Then an offer like Hoppin' a long, Jong life. the one from the Savoy comes along... Most Best, Cynthia Millman © 1994 Dancing Srnr Production:-; except where held by of the early Lindy Hoppers came from that New York, USA author. All righl� rt:served. Responsibilicy for veracity of infonnation wi1hin lhe anic.:les is the author's alone kind of background. You have to understand Hoppin' and Dancing Star Produclions accepts no liability. the social context to understand this style. Page2 Special City Review Hoppin' Spring ·94 New -York, New. York Some old-time dancers feel the Contacts: NY scene has fractured, that the Ballroom Review. 60 Gramercy energy for Lindy is diminishing. Park North, NY, NY 10010. For Others say West Coast has also social dance in the NY, New crested and is diminishing, and Jersey, Connecticut area. Nick that where within the past ten Ullo, phone +I 212 673 3442 years one might dance most Mama Lou Parks Dancers, nights of the week, today the Richard Harris, +I 201 440 1268, scene has consolidated around wk +I 212 489 7400, or Debra two or three solid evenings, with Youngblood, +I 212 862 8009. demanding jobs and recession New York Swing Dance Society/ causing people to be less active. Big Apple Lindy Hoppers. P.O. Nevertheless, there are numer Box 1512, NY NY 10009-1512. ous dance studios and organisa Promote Swing dance and music. tions giving classes, series, and NYSDS - Bob Crease phone + l one-off Lindy workshops, often 212 696 9737. BALH - Cynthia taking advantage of teachers in Millman, +l 212 989 2315 town from outside NY. Various supper or dinner/dancing clubs Venues: ASDC Winnera in the Lindy Hop Division, April 1994. (/, r) Ivan & advertise live music from the '40s NYSDS Savoy Sundays (19:00- Elizabeth Berggren, Louise Thwaite & a bearded Simon Selmon, MC and earlier. 24:00), Continental Club, 17 Irving Kenny Wetzel, Maxine Green & Warren Heyes, unidentified. Photo Place at 15th St. Live bands; cost courtesy of Simon Selmon. Hoppin' is told that our best bet fordancing Lindy in New York is $12. phone +l 212 696 9737 With New York hosting the CAN'T Swing Dance Championships. go to the Sunday night Continental *Monday (21:00-23:30), Well's TOP THE LINDY HOP celebra Winners in this year's couples Club dance, get Ballroom Review, Restaurant, 132 St. & 7th Ave. tions, it seemed appropriate to division were Warren Heyes & for current dance events, and go Popular in the 30's; reopened by have a special city focus on the Maxine Green of the UK (first), to the Monday night dance at the the daughter of the original place where Lindy started.