Frankie Manning

Swing dancer extraordinaire Frankie Manning was a leading dancer at Harlem’s legendary Savoy Ballroom where in the mid-1930s, he revolutionised the course of the lindy hop with his innovations, including the air step. As a featured dancer and chief choreographer for the spectacular Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, he performed in numerous films (including Hellzapoppin’ (1941)), and […]

THE LIFE OF FRANKIE MANNING 1914 Frankie Manning was born on the 26th of May, 1914, in Jacksonville, Florida. According to Frankie, his mother, a party lady, told him that even before he was born he used to kick in time to the music when she went out dancing. At the age of three, Frankie […]

Scott Cupit interview with Jazz FM’s Nigel Williams, broadcast 21 October 2014.

London takes part in the Electric slide presentation for Frankie Manning at Frankie100.

We love this little bit of footage from the London Swing Festival 2011. A Shim Sham for Frankie Manning’s Birthday.

CARLY ROBB I get to give you all a brief overview of the performance troupes that Frankie was involved with, in particular Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, and some of the work that the group did in Hollywood.  Some of the material on the web is a little contradictory, and dates can be hard to come by, […]

Jennifer Farrington talks about the life of Frankie Manning after Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers disbanded

How important were the Great Swing bands of the 30’s and 40’s to the culture and evolution of the dance we know and love today? Well, let’s just say that it is thanks to these musical entrepreneurs that we’re not milling ‘round dance floors today doing the ‘Sit’, the ‘Shuffle & Yawn’ or even the […]

An article about when Frankie Manning and seven of the Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, billed as the Eight Original Apple Dancers, last visited Melbourne.

This article talks about Frankie Manning’s dance partners – Freda Washington, Willa Mae Ricker, Ann Johnson and Norma Miller