Dear Friends,
Our very dear inspiration, friend, and extraordinary Lindy Hopper, Frankie Manning passed away early this morning.
There is so much to recall about this man, I don't even know where to begin. But anyone who ever met him will NEVER forget him!
It's simple for me, Frankie Manning had the best hug ever! His smile lit up the room. And his laugh rocked your soul.
Frankie Manning (center) leading the Big Apple
His dancing legacy is clear and grand:
• He was one of the greatest Lindy Hoppers ever.
• He inspired tens of thousands of the new generation of dancers.
• He gave us a desire and strength to keep Lindy Hop alive.
Frankie leads Czech Lindy Hopper (and yours truly) in the Shim Sham in Prague, May 24, 2007
To enjoy his life and his dancing, click on these links for wonderful clips:
As most of you have likely heard by now, we lost Frankie Manning early Monday morning. Frankie was an incredibly special person who touched many lives. He lived an amazing life and truly was an ambassador of Lindy Hop. We are especially thinking today of Frankie's girlfriend Judy, his son Chazz and the rest of his family. Many of us around the world have felt very much a part of his extended family. He drew us in with his smile, his big laugh and his wonderful spirit.
I have been thinking about Frankie a lot lately. Partly because of the big birthday celebration coming up on Memorial Day weekend and also because of the news several days ago that his health had seriously declined. It hasn't completely sunk in that Frankie is gone and although I am very sad, whenever I think of him, it is mostly happy thoughts. Tony and I have had the privilege to know Frankie for many years and have many wonderful memories.
My top 10 list:-)
10. One of our first Lindy Hop experiences was a workshop weekend with Frankie in upstate New York. It was probably 1992 and we were newbies. This was before Frankie figured out how to count out the steps. Plus he often changed what he did from what he said. We may have been a bit confused, but we loved it! This was also the first time that we actually met Frankie.
9. In January 2005 we hosted a workshop weekend with Frankie in Cambridge. It was one of the most positive experiences we have had. Frankie had a way of lighting up a room and spreading his joy to everyone around him. Frankie stayed at our house and we felt like we were hosting royalty! (He is after all the King of Swing.) He was a most gracious and humble guest.
8. Frankie joined us at Beantown Camp for the first time in 1998, our second year. This year would have been his 10th visit. We loved his stories, classes and watching all the happy campers meeting and taking pictures with him. Probably the most special year was in 2007 just after Frankie's book co-written with Cynthia Millman was published. We had a book signing at camp and it was so exciting to see the long line of people waiting their turn for their moment with both Frankie and Cynthia.
7. Several times I had the tremendous privilege of assisting Frankie in classes. I did a weekend workshop with him in Connecticut, a class when we hosted him locally and numerous times at Beantown. Each time was a thrill!
6. One year at Beantown when we were at Bryant College, probably 2003, we were practicing for a performance with the Hop to the Beat Dancers. Frankie had just finished up teaching a class in the room. In our repertoire was his "Keep Punchin'" Big Apple routine and Tony asked Frankie if he would watch us do it. We actually hadn't danced it in awhile and may have been a bit rusty. However, we danced it for him and he gave us some tips on what we could work on. Plus he asked us why we were doing all these crazy breaks, which we said we got from the movie clip. He told us to just use the same simple break each time, which most of us were very happy to hear:-) It is not everyday you get Frankie Manning to give you coaching tips!
5. At maybe our last Beantown at Wheaton College, which was 2001, we had Frankie teach the Lindy Chorus. We planned to perform at the evening dance with anyone who wanted from the class and those who already knew it. Frankie performed with us, partnering with Caitlin George Wellman. Tony and I were dancing next to them and throughout the whole routine all I could think of was that we were performing with Frankie Manning!
4. One time at Beantown I assisted Frankie in a Big Apple class. One of the steps we did was Ride the Pony. That's the move where you are back-to-back, the leader crouches down and the follower kind of sits on the leader's backside. For some reason, doing this move with Frankie was a very special experience:-)
3. The year we did the Lindy Chorus at Beantown, a bunch of us were practicing just before dinner time. Frankie came out of his class and was walking through the room. He wanted to demonstrate to everyone how to do the ending where the follower jumps on the leader's back and you walk off piggy back style. Frankie told me to jump on him to demonstrate. I hesitated. I knew he was a strong guy, but he was about 87 at the time. I checked with him that he really wanted me to jump up on him and he said yes. So that was what I did. It is a simple move, but doing it with Frankie was very special.
2. I have had the opportunity to social dance with Frankie several times over the years and my all time favorite was around 1995-1996. Tony and I had been invited to teach the pre-dance lesson at the New York Swing Dance Society dance in NYC. We brought our very first performance group with us to perform at the dance. I believe the band was Ron Sunshine and Frankie was in attendance. I had just started to dance with one of the guys from our group. The song was one of Frankie's favorites, "Shiny Stockings". He came over to me and my friend Mark on the dance floor and asked if he could cut in. My head was in the clouds during that dance and at the end he walked me off the floor and brought me back to Mark. Especially since it was so unexpected and that he asked me, it is a dance I will always cherish.
1. Tony and I have been lucky to know Frankie for many years, even if we didn't see him often enough. When I would see him, he would say "Hi Baby" and give me a kiss. He was a sweet and wonderful person and this is my favorite memory and the one that does bring the tears to my eyes.
Frankie shared so much of himself with all of us. It does make me happy that he got so much love back, but I am sad that he didn't get to have his 95th birthday celebration this May. He will live on through us and we can honor his memory by spreading joy as Frankie did around the world.
