Frank Manning

Corona

From Harlem's ballrooms at age 13, to the elite Whitey's Lindy Hoppers as a dancer and choreographer, Frankie Manning has always been a major force behind the development of the dance that is truly an American art form. He is credited with not only creating the first airstep, but also the first ensemble Lindy Hop routine.
Born in 1914, Frankie lived in Florida until the age of 3, at which time his mother brought him to Harlem, the birthplace of the Lindy. Growing up in the midst of this Swing Era playground, Frankie found he was part of a group of dedicated dancers that was to inspire the dancing and music of the 1930's and 40's. Based at Harlem's Savoy Ballroom, Frankie took his talent on he road as a dancer and chief choreographer for Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. He performed in several films including Everybody Sings with Judy Garland and Hellzapoppin', then went on to tour the world with jazz greats Ethel Waters, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Duke Ellington, Count Basie and Cab Calloway, among others. While dancing in London in 1937, Frankie gave a command performance for King George VI. In 1941, Frankie "Musclehead" Manning was featured in a Life magazine article that chronicled the evolution of the Lindy.

With the onset of World War II, Whitey's Lindy Hoppers disbanded and Frankie became another name, rank and serial number in the Army. Upon his release in 1947, he formed his own dance troupe, The Congaroos Dancers. They appeared on the Milton Berle Show, and toured with Dizzy Gillespie, Tony Bennet, Martha Raye, Nat "King" Cole, and Sammy Davis, Jr. As the fifties and Rock n' Roll moved in, Frankie settled down to family life.

In 1986, with the resurgence of swing dancing, Frankie emerged from his 30-year stint at the Post Office to lead a new breed of Jitterbugs. This renewed interest in the Lindy Hop has set Frankie globetrotting once again, spreading his own brand of dance magic through workshops and lectures. In 1989, Frankie was profiled on ABC's primetime news program, 20/20. producer Alice Pifer said, "Frankie Manning is one of our country's cultural treasures and for too long he did not have full recognition. That's why I felt he warranted a profile on national television."

Also in 1989, Frankie received a Tony Award for best Choreography in the Broadway hit musical Black and Blue. The New York Times noted, "Mr. Manning is a choreographer we should see more often. His theatricalization of Jitterbug styles is topped with a spectacular anthology of social dancing and tap in the chorus numbers Swinging and Wednesday Night Hop.

In 1992, Frankie was the dance consultant for and danced in Spike Lee's film, Malcolm X. With fellow Lindy Hopper Norma Miller, Frankie choreographed Stompin' at the Savoy, an NBC made for television movie directed by Debbie Allen. Frankie's 80th birthday was marked with a three day celebration in New York, Can't Top The Lindy Hop! He has recently been featured in GQ and People Magazine as well as several appearances on Good Morning America.

Frankie currently serves on the board of directors of the New York Swing Society where he helps the organization carry on its mission of preserving swing dancing to live Big Band Music. Frankie's fabulous dancing and radiant smile have served as inspiration to generations of Lindy Hop enthusiasts, but modestly he claims, "I'm not interested in fame and glory, it's just that I would like others to know what a happy dance this is."

Frankie