Frankie Manning: ambassador of Lindy hop

Abstract

*Preface de Mercedes Ellington *Ref. bibliogr.: P. 273-277 *Index *Sommaire : Jazz baby -- Early ballroom forays -- To the Savoy at last -- Whitey, Shorty, and Stretch -- Win win -- Up in the she goes -- Going pro -- Big time at the Cotton Club -- A big apple for Whitey -- On Broadway and in the movies -- Down Rio way -- Dancer interrupted -- The congaroo dancers and a day job -- Revival. *Presentation de l'editeur : 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.