The Ambassador of the Lindy Hop
By Kim Knode
Frankie Manning is the Savoy Ballroom legend who was present at the birth of the Lindy Ho! p in the 1920s in Harlem. Manning received his unofficial title of Ambassador of the Lindy Hop early on. Manning was a choreographer for Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. The dance troupe helped to promote the Swing of the Savoy by traveling the world and appearing in Hollywood movies.
The European, American and Asian members of the Tokyo Swing Dance Society (TSDS) were anticipating the arrival of a visit from the Ambassador of the Lindy Hop in the millennium. Manning had accepted the society's invitation to celebrate his eighty-sixth May 26th birthday with a three-day workshop in Tokyo.
However, in a February 2000 San Francisco dance studio, Manning suffered a leg injury. He was hospitalized and rehabilitation was required. Manning was forced to cancel a slew of classes on his teaching tour.
However, Manning confirmed two weeks before the ev! ent that he would blow out his birthday candles in Tokyo. And for the first time since February , Manning celebrated with the TSDS by doing the Lindy!
As the organizer of the event, Hiroyuki Yamada was privy to a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Manning. He was most impressed with the "dancing spirit" of the Ambassador of the Lindy Hop who insisted that he keep showing students how to Swing despite a knee that constantly needed icing in between workshops.
Perhaps, Manning should officially be given the title, the Ambassador of the Lindy Hop.