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Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop
In the early days of swing dancing, Frankie Manning stood out for his moves and innovative routines; he introduced the 'air step' in the Lindy Hop, a dance that took the U.S. and then the world by storm. In this fascinating autobiography, choreographer and Tony Award winner (Black and Blue) 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.
312 pages, Hardcover
First published May 28, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 2, 2014
This book has been sitting on my shelf for over 7 years now, and I'm sad I didn't read it when he was still alive. I didn't spend as much time with Frankie as I could have. I skipped a number of his classes at the various dance events we were both at, and didn't make a point of going to the workshops that he had in the cities I lived in. At the time I didn't feel like what he taught was as relevant to the dancing I wanted to do (bowing to your queen, and it was typically less dynamic than I wanted). I wish I'd gone out of my way to watch the videos of him dancing 20 years before I knew him to get a little more context on what he was teaching. My loss. I'm also a lot more introspective on the variations in the dance scene now that the styles have changed so much and I don't get from the dance the things I used to. I kind of wish I had the opportunity to have a long discussion with him about some of the things he said in his book, and how it relates to my experiences.
I remember talking with Cynthia Millman during Beantown in 2001 about what I didn't like about the structure of Norma Miller's book Swinging At The Savoy The Memoir of a Jazz Dancer. I'm not sure she remembered or made any changes based on what I said, but the structure definitely is in line with what I suggested.
Anyone who met Frankie can see his personality and spirit in the book. He tells the good and the bad (the fights, the times he lied about things to get what he wanted, etc), but the joy he had for dancing and for connecting with and entertaining people was always present.
I have a number of stories about my dancing getting corrected in front of everyone at various workshops (mostly by Steven Mitchell). With Frankie, though, it was my Suzie-Q's. I had learned the step by watching a VHS tape of Ryan Francois teaching The Jitterbug Stroll at Frankie's 1994 birthday celebration. During a class he saw me, and pointed me out to everyone and said something like, "there aren't many things I consider wrong in lindy hop, but not keeping your toes closer to the floor when you pivot on your heel is one of them."
My final experience with Frankie was his interview/discussion in the auditorium at Southwest Lindyfest in 2008, less than a year before he passed away. I wish I'd done more of those, but then I think most of what he said there was covered in this book.
A remarkable man with a remarkable story, and it was my privilege to meet him and learn from him.
I remember talking with Cynthia Millman during Beantown in 2001 about what I didn't like about the structure of Norma Miller's book Swinging At The Savoy The Memoir of a Jazz Dancer. I'm not sure she remembered or made any changes based on what I said, but the structure definitely is in line with what I suggested.
Anyone who met Frankie can see his personality and spirit in the book. He tells the good and the bad (the fights, the times he lied about things to get what he wanted, etc), but the joy he had for dancing and for connecting with and entertaining people was always present.
I have a number of stories about my dancing getting corrected in front of everyone at various workshops (mostly by Steven Mitchell). With Frankie, though, it was my Suzie-Q's. I had learned the step by watching a VHS tape of Ryan Francois teaching The Jitterbug Stroll at Frankie's 1994 birthday celebration. During a class he saw me, and pointed me out to everyone and said something like, "there aren't many things I consider wrong in lindy hop, but not keeping your toes closer to the floor when you pivot on your heel is one of them."
My final experience with Frankie was his interview/discussion in the auditorium at Southwest Lindyfest in 2008, less than a year before he passed away. I wish I'd done more of those, but then I think most of what he said there was covered in this book.
A remarkable man with a remarkable story, and it was my privilege to meet him and learn from him.
April 6, 2014
Apparently one writer of the canonical text on jazz dance had a heart-attack before getting the real scoop on Lindy Hop, so this book is an important piece of revisionist history, putting Frankie Manning in his rightful place. Frankie is warm but reserved, and since he unfortunately has to worry about securing his legacy, the last two-thirds of this book are a bit dry.
Frankie only briefly, and then apologetically, touches on racism, although he often runs up against Jim Crow; even in the North, performing in places like the Cotton Club-- a Whites-only club in Harlem which often set its shows on a plantation-- smacks of minstrelsy. He's similarly silent, besides a few funny anecdotes, on his experience in the war. I would have been interested in more insight.
However, he spins yarns about the early days which are transcendental. His talk about swing music and social dancing sounds like the elements of hip-hop-- an art form that informs your ethos. It's not escapism if you never leave, and why would you leave the Savoy?
Frankie only briefly, and then apologetically, touches on racism, although he often runs up against Jim Crow; even in the North, performing in places like the Cotton Club-- a Whites-only club in Harlem which often set its shows on a plantation-- smacks of minstrelsy. He's similarly silent, besides a few funny anecdotes, on his experience in the war. I would have been interested in more insight.
However, he spins yarns about the early days which are transcendental. His talk about swing music and social dancing sounds like the elements of hip-hop-- an art form that informs your ethos. It's not escapism if you never leave, and why would you leave the Savoy?
April 27, 2018
A must-read for every Lindy Hopper.
It's an incredibly uplifting account of the history of Lindy Hop, that just makes you want to get up and dance. The timeline is pretty clear and the origins of most popular dances and steps are explained. Frankie is incredibly humble and really seems to be focused on spreading the love, which really put a smile on my face.
However, I do think that in his attempts to keep this book as positive as possible, Frankie is hesitant to speak up about racial issues. Of course, on the other hand, this book was published several years ago, before the surge in discussion about this kind of thing. Still, it's good to bear this kind of thing in mind when reading this book.
It's an incredibly uplifting account of the history of Lindy Hop, that just makes you want to get up and dance. The timeline is pretty clear and the origins of most popular dances and steps are explained. Frankie is incredibly humble and really seems to be focused on spreading the love, which really put a smile on my face.
However, I do think that in his attempts to keep this book as positive as possible, Frankie is hesitant to speak up about racial issues. Of course, on the other hand, this book was published several years ago, before the surge in discussion about this kind of thing. Still, it's good to bear this kind of thing in mind when reading this book.
June 30, 2024
Biographies are good, Autobiographies are better.
February 23, 2014
Must read it again!
April 2, 2015
A wonderful man and inspiring depiction of the Swing Dance Era.
Must read for anyone interested in the Lindy hop, American culture and/or the fabulous Frankie Manning.
Must read for anyone interested in the Lindy hop, American culture and/or the fabulous Frankie Manning.
April 9, 2024
This book was a joy! Frankie’s humor and personality really shine through the pages, on several occasions I laughed out loud! Truly a must read for all Lindy Hoppers!
March 26, 2024
Inspiring, beautiful, informative and full of swing. Incredibly well-researched and assembled.
Considering that it was published in 2007 I understand the lightness over the racism experienced, but I do believe that the book does justice (and is sometimes quite generous) to the politics surrounding Lindy hop.
Millman’s contributions are definitely exceptional and overall the book feels like a movie. A fast-paced, choreographed, beautiful movie with an excellent sound track.
— I’ve seen criticism on the book regarding Frankie not calling out racism more than he did, and while I understand and agree I think it’s A LOT of pressure to put on someone who was publishing/ writing this in the early 2000s while being in their 90s, in an atmosphere that’s definitely not as “welcoming” as today’s when it comes to calling white people out.
With Lindy hop being much more mainstream in white-dominated communities right now (i.e the Lindy hop community in Sweden and the rest of Europe), I think it would have been very hard to include a deeper focus on racism. I think it’s important and I’m sure there are MANY many racist accounts that should be documented and spoken out against, but I don’t believe that this critique should befall on Frankie, but rather on dance history and the constant white-washing and pretty-washing/ romanticizing of art as much as possible, when all art is inherently political.
And when indeed, racism blocked and halted the growth and progress of art forms by many marginalized groups. Particularly art from black communities and/ or other marginalized communities. Imagine what it would be like today if Swing and jazz had received the same level of attention, support and funding as “white art” always has.
That being said, yes there definitely were many times in the book where Frankie’s accounts of systematic racism are severely downplayed, but we have to remember that he was born in the 1910s and lived mainly through the 20th century, where downplaying these accounts was, unfortunately, a form of survival and a coping mechanism.
Considering that it was published in 2007 I understand the lightness over the racism experienced, but I do believe that the book does justice (and is sometimes quite generous) to the politics surrounding Lindy hop.
Millman’s contributions are definitely exceptional and overall the book feels like a movie. A fast-paced, choreographed, beautiful movie with an excellent sound track.
— I’ve seen criticism on the book regarding Frankie not calling out racism more than he did, and while I understand and agree I think it’s A LOT of pressure to put on someone who was publishing/ writing this in the early 2000s while being in their 90s, in an atmosphere that’s definitely not as “welcoming” as today’s when it comes to calling white people out.
With Lindy hop being much more mainstream in white-dominated communities right now (i.e the Lindy hop community in Sweden and the rest of Europe), I think it would have been very hard to include a deeper focus on racism. I think it’s important and I’m sure there are MANY many racist accounts that should be documented and spoken out against, but I don’t believe that this critique should befall on Frankie, but rather on dance history and the constant white-washing and pretty-washing/ romanticizing of art as much as possible, when all art is inherently political.
And when indeed, racism blocked and halted the growth and progress of art forms by many marginalized groups. Particularly art from black communities and/ or other marginalized communities. Imagine what it would be like today if Swing and jazz had received the same level of attention, support and funding as “white art” always has.
That being said, yes there definitely were many times in the book where Frankie’s accounts of systematic racism are severely downplayed, but we have to remember that he was born in the 1910s and lived mainly through the 20th century, where downplaying these accounts was, unfortunately, a form of survival and a coping mechanism.
December 6, 2018
What a great trip to the history of this amazing dance-movement! Frankie gets us back to the 20s giving us the roots of swing dancing through his growing up, then into the 30s, late 30s and 40s where lindy took off. He describes every move, every incident, Avery character in such a vivid and colorful way that it is hard not to imagine yourself being there with him throughout his adventures.
The second and smaller part of the book, focuses on the downturn post-WWII and the revival back in the 80s. I wish there was a bit more detail in terms of the people involved in the process, his experiences as a teacher and how the scene post 1980 differed/ differs from the original Savoy years.
Still, you can't go.wrong with reading this. Incredible insight on the people and the Era that brought my favorite dance into prominence! Highly suggested!
The second and smaller part of the book, focuses on the downturn post-WWII and the revival back in the 80s. I wish there was a bit more detail in terms of the people involved in the process, his experiences as a teacher and how the scene post 1980 differed/ differs from the original Savoy years.
Still, you can't go.wrong with reading this. Incredible insight on the people and the Era that brought my favorite dance into prominence! Highly suggested!
November 12, 2020
“Spread it around, let it be an inspiration. And when you’re on the floor, enjoy yourself.” The late Frankie Manning was renowned for both his charming amiability and his innovations in swing dance. His character lends a warm glow to this autobiography, which recounts his time dancing at the Savoy, his Hollywood credits with Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, and his role in revitalizing Lindy Hop for today’s generations. Cynthia Millman accomplishes the delicate work of putting context to Frankie’s anecdotes. Reflecting on this book, it would be easy to use words like “prolific” or “groundbreaking” to describe Frankie, but those weren’t his priorities. The most fitting word, I think, would be joyful.
February 6, 2017
A fascinating and insightful view into social and professional dance and show business in the U.S in the 1930's and beyond. Frankie Manning was a key figure in the both the development and resurgence of Swing Dance. Lindy Hop is a thriving, living, yet historical dance. Its dancers today can gain a lot of insight from Frankie's journey. Presented in an casual yet intriguing way, it's a solid read full of fun anecdotes. If you've ever had any questions on the development of Jazz or Swing dance, or the start of the Jazz era, this is the book for you!
December 7, 2020
Being a Lindy hope dancer this book was key for me to read and understand the origin of the dance. I really enjoyed it. Some Paragraphs inserted by Cynthia Millman also put things more in contexte and give more depth to some dancing terminology. I could discover who was there at the time in Harlem, dancer, musician. Written as if you were in the ballroom hanging out with those cats, so if you’re looking for fine literature, pass your way.
April 6, 2022
A must read for all the Lindy Hoppers!
Beautifully written and narrated. Feels like Frankie is speaking to me, one-on-one. It is one thing to learn a few moves in classroom but a whole lot another thing to understand what went into creating those exhausting, jumpy moves. Learning about the history behind my favorite dance on this planet has made my journey as a student (of Lindy Hop) much more enriching. My love and passion for Lindy Hop has further deepened after reading this book.
Beautifully written and narrated. Feels like Frankie is speaking to me, one-on-one. It is one thing to learn a few moves in classroom but a whole lot another thing to understand what went into creating those exhausting, jumpy moves. Learning about the history behind my favorite dance on this planet has made my journey as a student (of Lindy Hop) much more enriching. My love and passion for Lindy Hop has further deepened after reading this book.
April 25, 2023
Masterfully written and edited- this book really captures Frankies voice and builds a cohesive narrative of the history of Lindy Hop. I'm floored by the level of depth and detail this book went into from Lindy's early days to the Lindy revival, and just how many people were remembered and acknowledged throughout.
January 19, 2024
A fantastic book the reviews some of the earliest days of what would become what we know as East Coast Swing dancing (esp. Lindy Hop) including the introduction of the first arial maneuvers (or what Frankie Manning called "air steps"). In particular fascinating to hear the comedic elements that were involved and the degree of collaboration that was involved.
April 14, 2024
That was a lovely read. Frankie's personality really shines through, and I loved learning more about the history of Lindy Hop.
In the very first chapter, Frankie has an anecdote about how his mom told him at a young age that he was too stiff to be a dancer. Remembering this allows me to laugh and try not to get too discouraged as I'm trying to learn Lindy.
In the very first chapter, Frankie has an anecdote about how his mom told him at a young age that he was too stiff to be a dancer. Remembering this allows me to laugh and try not to get too discouraged as I'm trying to learn Lindy.
August 23, 2017
Phenomenal book that takes you through a life well lived, with honest and true to who is he was as a person, a mentor and as a dancer. Frankie Manning is what lindy hop is all about and I am blessed to have had the chance to learn a little bit about the man who helped build this beautiful dance.
October 12, 2019
This book contains lots of great background on the evolution of Lindy Hop, as well as Frankie's dance career. It barely scratches his personal life so as a general biography is a little lacking. I'd recommend this to people who are interested in the history of the dance, but not to anybody else.
January 9, 2020
While the book is an essential read for anyone who is getting into swing dancing, as an autobiography, it is not that great.
Manning says very little about his own personal struggles and he talks about his dance career more than he does about his own personal life.
Manning says very little about his own personal struggles and he talks about his dance career more than he does about his own personal life.
May 28, 2023
Loved learning the history of Lindt hop Frankie was such a positive man always saw the bright side of things! Learned about the Savoy Ballroom, the air step, the Charleston, Duke Ellington so much more in from Frankie so down to earth
October 19, 2024
Been a lindy hopper since 2004 & finally got around to reading this. Wow! He really made u feel u were right there with him. Sadly never got to meet Frankie or Norma although I walked right by them at a dance event in Seattle. Had a feeling they were pretty famous. Think this was in 2006
September 7, 2018
Great book from a great spirit.
April 10, 2020
That was just awesome. Full of amazing stories, history of lindy hop and era itself, names and ideas.
August 23, 2020
A wonderful book about an utterly lovely person, and essential reading for anyone who loves Lindy Hop.
April 14, 2021
Good swing dance history, but dry reading.
October 23, 2021
Strong story told in a powerful manier.
May 30, 2022
So fascinating!! He lived a very interesting life and accomplished a lot.
August 21, 2022
Great book on the history of lindy hop
April 5, 2023
This book was so much fun to read! Highly recommend this book to swing dance enthusiasts or anyone interested in dance or dance history!
July 18, 2024
Uplifting frankness, makes you want to dance
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews