Harlem Speaks Honors Frankie Manning June 29

Harlem Speaks Honors Frankie Manning with a Big Band Swing Dance at the Riverside Church

Frankie Manning, Dancer/Choreographer June 29, 2007

This special Friday session of Harlem Speaks will take place at the Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue (between 120th and 122nd Streets). Legendary dancer/choreographer Frankie Manning will be interviewed along with Cynthia Millman, the co-author of his autobiography, Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop.

Riverside Church is going to be using a ticket system to manage the access just to the panel discussion portion of the event. Tickets are free, but you should call 212-870-6784 to reserve a spot. If there is room, they will be releasing seats at around 6:45PM, so if you don't get a ticket try and arrive well before then.

The updated schedule is as follows:
7PM : A chat with Frankie Manning and Cynthia Millman, hosted by Loren Schoenberg of the Jazz Museum in Harlem (call 212-870-6784 to reserve a seat)
8:30PM: A book signing by Frankie and Cynthia Millman, plus a free swing dance lesson
9-10:45PM: A dance featuring the Jazz Museum in Harlem Big Band
Performances by the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers, Frankie leading the shim sham, and some surprises along the way!

The evening is totally free, courtesy of the Riverside Church. We'll be bringing together a diverse assortment of folks from Riverside Church, the Jazz Museum in Harlem, and the lindy hop communities. It's going to be a blast

From Harlem's ballrooms at age 13, to the elite Whitey's Lindy Hoppers as a dancer and choreographer, Frankie Manning has always been a major force behind the development of the dance that's truly an American art form. He is credited with not only creating the first airstep, but also the first ensemble Lindy Hop routine.

In addition to a discussion with Mr. Manning on Friday, June 29th at the Riverside Church, this special evening of Harlem Speaks will feature swing dancing, so bring your dancing shoes!

Born in 1914, Manning lived in Florida until the age of 3, at which time his mother brought him to Harlem, the birthplace of the Lindy. Growing up in the midst of this Swing Era playground, Manning became part of a group of dedicated dancers that inspired the dance styles and music of the 1930's and 40's. Based at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom, he took his talent on the road as a dancer and chief choreographer for Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.

Manning early on performed in several films, including Everybody Sings with Judy Garland and Hellzapoppin', and proceeded to tour the world with legends such as Ethel Waters, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Bill “Bojangles" Robinson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Cab Calloway, among others. While dancing in London in 1937, Frankie gave a command performance for King George VI. In 1941, Frankie “Musclehead" Manning was featured in a Life magazine article that chronicled the evolution of the Lindy.

In 1986, with the resurgence of swing dancing, Frankie emerged from his 30-year stint at the Post Office to lead a new breed of Jitterbugs. This renewed interest in the Lindy Hop has set Frankie globetrotting once again, spreading his own brand of dance magic through workshops and lectures.

In 1989 he won a Tony Award for his choreography in Black and Blue. Manning also served as a consultant for and danced in Spike Lee's Malcolm X and Debbie Allen's Stompin' at the Savoy.

Manning's life and career has been chronicled in the recently published work, Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop, a Temple University Press book he co-authored with fellow Lindy Hopper Cynthia R. Millman.

He currently serves on the board of directors of the New York Swing Society, where he helps the organization carry on its mission of preserving swing dancing to live Big Band Music. Frankie's fabulous dancing and radiant smile have served as inspiration to generations of Lindy Hop enthusiasts, but modestly he claims, “I'm not interested in fame and glory, it's just that I would like others to know what a happy dance this is."

On Thursday, June 14, 2007 the National Jazz Museum in Harlem treated its audience to a free jam session featuring a group of swinging young musicians: Pete and Will Reardon-Anderson, saxes, Jerome Jennings, drums, Corcoran Holt, bass, and Craig Parrello, guitar. Audience members, including vocalist Lodi Carr, sat in as well and a good time was had by all. The musicians appeared courtesy of a grant from the Music Performance Fund. The band garnered big applause and deep appreciation for sharing classic music at such a low cost: free!