Who was Frankie Manning and what is the Lindy Hop?

Frankie Manning"s class, part 1

Manning then started a group called "Whitey"s Lindy Hoppers", with whom hetoured extensively and made several films. He also danced with Norma Miller, who became known as the Queen of Swing.

A resident ofCorona, Queens, Manning died inManhattanon April 27, 2009, aged 94.

What is the Lindy Hop?

If you"re into 20s and 30s dancing, you"ve probably heard of the Lindy Hop. It popularised the Swing era and was a fusion of many dances, including jazz, tap, breakaway and Charleston.

It was born in and important to the African-American communities in Harlem, but entered the mainstream in the 1930"s.

The dance can be wild and spontaneous, with frenzied kicks and body movements, or it can be cool and sophisticated, and it is usually partnered. It can be fascinating and interesting to watch.

Where did theLindy Hop get its name from?

Dance Marathons were popular as away of winning prize money during the Great Depression. It wasduring one of these that the Lindy apparently got its name.

In 1927, Charles Lindbergh became the first person to fly solofrom New York to Paris, and people were absorbed with his "Hop" across the Atlantic. He became a huge global superstar as a result.

The name was coined by one of Manning"s fellow dancers George "Shorty" Snowden.

Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2016/05/25/who-was-frankie-manning-and-what-is-the-lindy-hop/