Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging (Doc tribute to famous swing dancer)

[EFerrari]

Frankie Manning died on April 27th.

Amy's report this morning, including short interview with the producer:

“Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging”: New Documentary Chronicles Life of Dance Legend Known as the “Ambassador of Lindy Hop”


The legendary swing dancer Frankie Manning, known as the Ambassador of the Lindy Hop, died last month at the age of ninety-four. During a career spanning eight decades, Frankie Manning’s influence on the dance floor was felt around the world. A new documentary, Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging, looks at his life and legacy.

http://www.democracynow.org/2009/5/21/swinging



Watch the whole documentary on line!

Summary:

Watch the entire documentary of Frankie Manning: Never Stop Swinging here on the SundayArts Web site, also to air on May 24th for SundayArts on THIRTEEN.

The documentary features the last major interview of Frankie Manning before his death, as well as precious archival footage of his dancing from the 1930’s to 2009 in New York, Hollywood, Sweden, France, Italy and Singapore. Footage highlights include scenes of Manning’s birthday parties, where he danced with one woman for each year he’d been alive, the legendary dance scene choreographed and headlined by Manning for the film “Hellzapoppin,” and the phenomenal duet with his 76-year-old son, Chazz, himself a professional dancer. Frankie was a born storyteller, with a huge smile and an even bigger laugh.

“Frankie Manning was a man who truly LIVED every moment of his life,” said Julie Cohen, director of the documentary. “Having spent the past two months watching hundreds of hours of footage of him dancing from the 1930’s to the present, I’ve seen the joy he took in every step.”

As a teenager, Manning started dancing in the best venues in Harlem, including the legendary Savoy Ballroom. He became a member of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, the energetic, immensely talented group that made the dance a national phenomenon. As a young man, Manning traveled the world, and entertained on stages with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The group developed a large international following, even as they fought the racial prejudice that often barred them from sleeping at the hotels where they performed, or eating in the restaurants where their cabaret act brought in big profits.

http://www.thirteen.org/sundayarts/frankie-manning-never-stop-swinging/291

[Karenina]

1. RIP, Mr. Manning!

[EFerrari]

2. Did you see any of those clips?! What an amazing dancer

The traveling troupe had to deal with segregation everywhere, too.

[Karenina]

6. I'm from the Gregory Hines generation.

We heard a lot of those stories firsthand.

[EFerrari]

9. My youngest and favorite uncle is in that group.

He was only 12 or so years older than I am but the city he grew up in was different. You could still see traces of the culture by the time I was growing up but, you'd have to know how to look in order to notice.

[Vidar]

3. Thanks for the heads up. I have two of his dance tapes. Frankie was a character.

[EFerrari]

4. I'd never heard of him. He does seem to be quite a character

even in the latest video interviews. :)

[Vidar]

8. He was still giving lessons & hitting on his partners at 90.

[EFerrari]

10. LOL! Awesome.

[cyberswede]

5. Thanks for posting this!! n/t

[EFerrari]

7. My pleasure!