FAREWELL FRANKIE MANNING
He inspired all lindy hoppers with his joy for dancing. We could only hope to dance until our 90’s.
A dancer from Harlem, Frankie was one of the pioneers of Lindy Hop. That’s when swing dancers started inventing acrobatic moves called “aerials.” His exhuberant dancing was featured in the 1941 film “Hellzappopin’”
This dance star of the 1930’s – 1940’s ended up working at the post office for 30 years. In the 1980’s dancers from the Pasadena Ballroom Association in Southern California, went to New York to seek him out and talked him out of (dance) retirement. (Thanks PBDA) Since then, Frankie has been sharing his moves with Lindy Hoppers around the world. Frankie Manning will continue to be an inspiration to all of us whose lives were touched by his genius and his wonderful spirit.
Farewell Frankie, we love you and miss you.
NOTE: I got a message from George Gee Orchestra that Frankie's planned birthday celebration is still on. The message said: Frankie made it clear that if he didn’t make it to his birthday festival, he wanted everyone to celebrate his life rather than mourn his passing. At Frankie’s 95th Birthday Festival, May 21 – 25, we will be honoring Lindy Hop’s greatest ambassador.
As Lindy Hoppers from around the world were planning to celebrate Frankie’s 95th birthday in New York in just a few weeks, we learned of his passing. Frankie was 94 and he died in New York on April 27th, 2009. He was suffering from pneumonia.
We all mourn the loss of one of our favorite dancers. Those of us who were lucky enough to meet him will never forget his warm smile and ageless stamina.
