The Track 050 - For Frankie
This month’s episode is a little different than our usual extended interviews. In a case of perfectly serendipitous timing, this milestone 50th episode coincides with what would have been Frankie Manning’s 106th birthday, now widely recognized as World Lindy Hop Day. So, to celebrate both the Ambassador of Lindy Hop and this milestone episode, we’ve curated a collection of stories about Frankie the dancer, and Frankie the man, as told by previous guests on The Track.
It is hard to overstate the significance of Frankie Manning’s contributions to our cultural history, and his part in cultivating a truly worldwide community of people united by their love of this African-American art form he helped define. As a teenager, Frankie danced at Harlem’s legendary Savoy Ballroom, later bringing his talents to Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers as a lead dancer and chief choreographer. In the 1930’s and 1940’s he performed the Lindy Hop with jazz greats, on stage and screen, and toured internationally. In the 1980’s, Frankie answered the call of those with a renewed interest in the Lindy Hop and became its Ambassador - winning a Tony award for choreography, returning to performances on screen, and teaching dance workshops to a new generation of dancers around the world.
The community Frankie helped create through his knowledge, generosity, and character has never been stronger than we are seeing now in the midst of the global pandemic. Dancers across the globe are finding new ways to connect, support artists, and spread the love of Lindy Hop despite seemingly insurmountable challenges and in doing so, continue to honor and spread the spirit of its Ambassador.
Learn more about and support the Frankie Manning Foundation, which carries on the work and the spirit of Frankie Manning in spreading the joy of Lindy hop, danced to big band swing music, throughout the world. Among other endeavors, the Frankie Manning Foundation is currently raising and distributing funds for artists that have been impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about Frankie Manning in his autobiography, Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop, which is a delightful recollection of an incredible life. It is available in paperback and audio book formats wherever books are sold - you can find it and support local, independent bookstores by visiting bookshop.org.
Find complete conversations with all of this month’s guests in our archive.
This episode is produced & edited by Alletta Cooper.