Press Release

Tokyo Swing Dance Society
Press Release
February, 2000


The Tokyo Swing Dance Society (TSDS; e-mail: swing@impetus.ne.jp; founding
board member, Hiroyuki Yamada) (see *1) will sponsor on 26~28 May 2000 in
Tokyo the Frankie Manning Millennium Birthday Bash, an event commemorating
the 86th birthday of Frankie Manning, the ambassador to the world for the
Lindy Hop, the original swing dance. (see *2)

The Lindy Hop is a partner dance, danced to swing jazz music. It began in
America, but is now danced enthusiastically around the world. Lindy Hop
originated in Harlem in the latter 1920s and was popular through the mid
1940s. The emergence in America in recent years of popular neo swing bands
has ignited a revival in the music as well as the fashions of the 1920s and
1930s. (see *3)

Frankie Manning is credited as the originator of the so-called "air steps"
mid-air dance steps in Lindy Hop (see *4). In the 1930s and 1940s, he was
the leader of a Lindy Hop dance troupe called the Whitey Lindy Hoppers,
which toured three continents giving public performances and spreading the
popularity of the dance. While the revival of the dance is being led by a
younger generation, Frankie remains very active even at the age of 85 as a
dance instructor and stage dancer.

Frankie Manning's 85th birthday celebration, held in three locations in the
US, was an enormous success. The first party, held in New York City,
attracted some 1,500 well-wishers. The second party, held over three days in
San Francisco, attracted a total of 1,500 people. The third and final party,
held on Catalina Island in Southern California, attracted 1,200 Lindy
Hoppers. (see *5) Each year, cities around the world compete on Olympic
proportions to sponsor Frankie's birthday celebration. In 2000, Tokyo
battled for the honor with cities in Europe and America and was selected to
host the event this year.

Many of the world's best Lindy Hop dancers are expected to join Frankie in
Tokyo. In addition to celebrating his birthday, they will give dance
workshops. We would like to cordially invite everyone with a yearn (or a
yen) for the original swing dance to come to Tokyo to celebrate Frankie
Manning's millennium birthday. 

The Frankie Manning's Millennium Birthday Bash has been endorsed by the
Tokyo American Center, Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Japan.


(*1)	Tokyo Swing Dance Society (TSDS):

TSDS is a non-profit club for people in the greater Tokyo-Yokohama area who
are interested in Lindy Hop dancing. TSDS holds regular dance classes,
sponsors workshops taught by world-class Lindy Hop instructors, and plans a
variety of dance events, including outdoor dances and dances with live
bands. For more information about the club, please refer to the following
releases:

*	Tokyo Swing Dance Society
          (www.impetus.ne.jp/lindyhop/tsds/release-tsds.html)



(*2)	Frankie Manning's millenium birthday:



Frankie Manning's Millennium Birthday Bash, the main event of the three-day
celebration, will be held on Sunday, 28 May in the ballroom of the American
Club. For up-to-date information about other events and their location,
please refer to (www.impetus.ne.jp/lindyhop/events/frankie). 


(*3) Lindy Hop:

In the past couple of years, Lindy Hop has been featured in a variety of
media. For example, in 1998, Lindy Hop dancers appeared in a GAP commercial
and on stage with the Brian Setzer Orchestra at the Music Awards ceremony.
Lindy Hop has also been featured in a number of movies, including Swing
Kids, Malcolm X, Mask, and Will Smith's music video Will 2K, as well as in
the Broadway musical Swing! For more information about Lindy Hop, please
refer to WWW.SAVOYSTYLE.COM.


(*4) Air steps:
  
For more details, please refer to www.savoystyle.com/frankie_manning.html.


(*5) 1999 Frankie Manning birthday events:

New York City: www.frankie85ny.org/nfhome1.htm
San Francisco: www.ncls.com/Frankie99