Frankie Manning Birthday Today 26th May

[Amir]

Frankie Manning (born 1914!) was one of the original great dancers of Lindy Hop in the 1930s.

He has a new book out about the era, and the dance community has been holding off until today to all buy it and get it up on the Amazon best seller list for his birthday. (I think you have to buy it from amazon.com not co.uk since it is a different list. But its cheaper on the US site anyway.)

If you are interested in the history of modern jive, west coast swing or lindy hop you'll eventually trace your steps back to this man, so check it out!

Read about the book (http://www.frankiemanning.com/)

See Frankie dancing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0BHxhUnokU&mode=related&search=)

Buy the book! (http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Manning-Ambassador-Lindy-Hop/dp/1592135633/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6099340-7929706?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178309898&sr=8-1)

[Minnie M]

Happy birthday Frankie

I am very lucky and proud to say I had a dance with him, it was at JATW (http://www.jazzjiveswing.com/html/jumpin.html)about 3 years ago and it was FAB! But better still, I was sitting next to him and chatting having 'Tea & Scones' on the Sunday (a traditional part of the JATW weekend)

He is a wonderful and amazing person, and as I said, I am extremely proud to have met him personally - in fact I have seen him a few times since and he always says hello (mind you I am sure he says hello to everyone, and doesn't actually remember me :blush: )

BTW he is still teaching AND dancing :respect: :worthy:

[Rhythm King]

Happy Birthday Frankie!




He is a wonderful and amazing person, and as I said, I am extremely proud to have met him personally - in fact I have seen him a few times since and he always says hello (mind you I am sure he says hello to everyone, and doesn't actually remember me :blush: )

BTW he is still teaching AND dancing :respect: :worthy:

:yeah: As a very newbie Lindy Hopper, I was talked into going to the first London Swing Dance Festival. Frankie was guest of honour. I went to his beginner's class and tried to pick everything he spoke about. At the lunch break, one of the other beginners and I went into one of the classrooms to practice our newly learned Lindy Turn. In walked Frankie and the lady and I both froze in our tracks - intimidated or what :what:

He said "show me that again!" so we wobbled our way around a Lindy Turn, whereupon he gave us a whole hour's private tuition. He is indeed wonderful and amazing, also generous, modest and very entertaining. As Minnie says, he always has time to say hello. If you get the chance to see him, grab it with both hands, even if you don't normally Lindy, he is a living legend.

R-K :respect:

[jiveknight]

Frankie Manning (born 1914!) was one of the original great dancers of Lindy Hop in the 1930s.

He has a new book out about the era, and the dance community has been holding off until today to all buy it and get it up on the Amazon best seller list for his birthday. (I think you have to buy it from amazon.com not co.uk since it is a different list. But its cheaper on the US site anyway.)

If you are interested in the history of modern jive, west coast swing or lindy hop you'll eventually trace your steps back to this man, so check it out!

Read about the book (http://www.frankiemanning.com/)

See Frankie dancing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0BHxhUnokU&mode=related&search=)

Buy the book! (http://www.amazon.com/Frankie-Manning-Ambassador-Lindy-Hop/dp/1592135633/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-6099340-7929706?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1178309898&sr=8-1)

Sounds a great idea.
We worked with him last year in Pasadena and he is still going strong, says he will dance with 100 girls when he is 100 yrs old :nice:

Happy Birthday Frankie!