Blog – Page 15 – Bees' Knees Dance

The Frankie Manning Foundation

Continuing Frankie’s mission of spreading joy through lindy hop.

The Mission

The mission of the Frankie Manning Lindy Hop Legacy Fund is to carry 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.

The Vision (“In our wildest dreams…”)

The Lindy Hop will be danced all over the world to live big band music. Everywhere that Lindy Hop is danced, on the dance floors and off, people of diverse backgrounds will treat each other with respect and warmth. The history of Frankie Manning and the originators of the Lindy Hop at the Savoy Ballroom will be well known to dancers and non-dancers everywhere.

The Values

In accordance with Manning’s own values, and those of the Savoy Ballroom where the dance got its start, the fund seeks to promote projects which are grounded in unity and collaboration, and which enable people of all different backgrounds to participate in this joyous dance.

Like Frankie Manning himself, we value:

Having fun dancing the Lindy Hop
Historic authenticity in Lindy Hop dancing and music
Improvisation and continued innovation
Close relationship between the music and the dance
Maintaining a true community among dancers
Mutual respect and cooperation
Inclusivity (diverse backgrounds: geographic, ethnic, socio-economic, age, ability, etc.)
Outreach and welcome to newcomers
Excellence, which can be encouraged through friendly competition
Continuing Frankie’s mission of spreading joy through lindy hop

PROPOSED PROJECTS OF THE FOUNDATION

EVENTS

Publicizing events around world memorializing FM, especially on his birthday
Facilitating Frankie100 celebration in 2014

NETWORKING

College Clubs
African-Americans in Lindy Hop
People working with K-12 age
Online forums, such as starting scenes; working w kids
Regional sub organization

CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING (K-12)

School based or not
Support, information in getting funding, involving parents, curriculum content, etc.
Perhaps video of successful program(s) to help others

SPREADING LINDY HOP ‘ROUND

Facilitating publicity
Support for documentaries
Support for new scenes

FUNDRAISING

SCHOLARSHIPS

ARCHIVES

Frankie Manning Memorabilia

Frankie Manning Video Collection of Revival

Contact us at frankie@savoystyle.com to volunteer, share ideas or donate funds

Under the auspices of the Houston Swing Dance Society, a 501C3 non-profit organization

Song of the Week! September 30th – Why Don’t You Do Right

SONG OF THE WEEK!

Song: Why Don’t You Do Right

Artist: Peggy Lee

Description: A truly classic song from the swing era. Originally released in 1936 by Kansas Joe McCoy, the lyrics in this song capture the Great Depression. Peggy Lee’s is the most famous recording of the song and it has a great slow swinging feeling that’s perfect for Beginners and experienced dancers alike.

Song of the Week! September 23rd – Splanky

SONG OF THE WEEK!

Song: Splanky

Artist: Count Basie (original), George Gee (contemporary)

Description: Another Count Basie classic! This is a terrific swing song and has been made particularly popular within the contemporary Lindy Hop community by Dawn Hampton. Dawn uses this song in her musicality demonstrations and she is a true embodiment of the music. Her favourite version is George Gee’s very swinging rendition of the song, as illustrated in [4]this clip.

Steven & Virginie in Rochester – Bees’ Knees Group Discount! Deadline: Oct. 4

Hey Bees’ Knees Dancers!

One of my favourite workshops is happening November 18-20 in Rochester NY. It’s the Steven & Virginie workshop weekend! I have been to this workshop more than any other and Steven & Virginie have been instrumental to my dancing from the beginning to present day.

As a bonus this year one of the world’s most sought after Lindy Hop musicians, Gordon Webster, will be recording his newest CD “Live In Rochester”, featuring Naomi Uyama on vocals!

Tickets to this workshop are selling fast and the price will only go up. HOWEVER, Bees’ Knees Dance is being granted a group discount rate of $115 US per person. This is cheaper than the original Early Bird price! If you’re interested (and I know you are), I will need your name, email address and $115 by no later than Tuesday, October 4th. The first step is to show your interest by emailing me at bourassa.phil@gmail.com.

If you’re a student with a valid student ID, you will receive 20% off the registration price. Awesome! Similar to the group discount, please send me an email expressing your interest.

It already looks like we’ll have a good Bees’ Knees group going this year, so don’t be the one to miss out!

For further information on Steven & Virginie Rochester, see the following link:

http://groovejuiceswing.com/steven-virginie/

Song of the Week! September 16th – All The Cats Join In

Song:All the Cats Join In

Artist: Benny Goodman & the Pied Pipers

Description: I first heard this song when I was a kid. I remember groovin’ along (as 7 year oldsdo) and enjoying the cartoon video that went along with it. The song was featured in the 1946Disney movie Make Mine Music. The clip from the movie makes me want to go dancing everytime I watch it.

As far as I know there are two version of the song. The first is a regular studio recording and thesecond one is taken directly from the clip. Having seen the clip, I always find it more enjoyabledancing to the movie version with all of the sound effects. My favourite part of the song is whenit changes up at 2:54. It always gets me going.

When I eventually got into Collegiate Shag, Idiscovered it’s a fairly common song among Shag enthusiasts and a lot of fun to dance to.
Watch the clip from Disney’s Make Mine Music:

How to get to the Savoy Ballroom site & plaque in Harlem

Visiting New York City?

As so many Lindy Hoppers before you, I recommend making the pilgrimage to the Savoy Plaque in Harlem.

Take the #2 or #3 line and get off at 135th St.
Walk 5 blocks uptown on Lenox Avenue.
The monument is on the west side of the avenue between 140th and 141st Streets. (Judy Pritchett says, “I think that’s wrong — should be EAST side of the avenue, but if faces west so maybe that’s what they were thinking.”)

Judy, from the Frankie Manning Foundation, was kind enough to add a few details to the map from the Savoy Plaque website www.savoyplaque.org – she was trying to think of anything that might confuse someone. It is a straight shot from the subway, up Lenox Ave (the street numbers go up). The cross streets are cut off at 140 and 141 St so it might be confusing if you came through some other way.

The #2 or #3 trains go through Times Square — very easy to find. Head uptown. In recent years there may be changes in the #3 and whether it stops at 135th St. Ask.

It is possible to go in the wrong direction when you get off the subway and I think maybe that’s what happened to you. Make sure to walk to the corner and head uptown on Lenox Ave, not Fifth Ave.

savoy plaque Mandi Gould Geoffrey Holmes — Geoffrey Holmes & Mandi Gould dancing at the Savoy

Jay and Liz at the Savoy — Liz Gruening and Jay Hay dancing at the Savoy

Mandi Gould and Krister Shalm dancing at the Savoy

Song of the Week! September 9th – Sister Kate

Song: Sister Kate

Artist: Alabama Jug Band

Description: Man, this song always gets me goin’! Recorded in 1934, Sister Kate is onlyone of many versions of the song but is definitely my favourite. The Alabama Jug Bandincluded the great Clarence Williams and is one of the few hot jazz bands to make use ofan old jug. With such a great sound, especially for dancing, it’s unfortunate there wereonly 8 tracks recorded. I love every one of them.

I think modern Swing Bands should make use of the old-time jug. Jugs are awesome!

Since I first discovered the AJB I’ve seen this song used in at least two lindy Hopchoreography pieces and personally used it to choreograph a Jazz routine for my SoloJazz class.

Finding all eight tracks is a little difficult but a few songs are posted on YouTube,including Sister Kate: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wtNSBupAVs

A few of their songs are scattered on a few compilation albums, but as far as I know theonly recording with all 8 of their tracks is the collection WORLD’S GREATEST JAZZCOLLECTION 2 Swing Time Box Set 100 CD (2008). It’s ridiculously expensive to buythe whole collection, but it certainly is a nice one. Not that I condone such behaviour, butit is possible that someone has posted all eight songs on their music blog. If you look hardenough you might get lucky.…

Workshop: Jasper’s Jazz Bootcamp – Sat. Oct. 8th

Jasper’s Jazz Bootcamp

Saturday, October 8th
3pm to 5pm, $20
The Hive, 765B Yonge St.

It happens to all of us. The Plateau. Our usual moves just don’t quite cut it anymore and we stare at our feet with an air of “meh”. Sometimes your jazz just needs a stiff kick in the foot. Presenting Jasper’s Jazz Bootcamp. “Boogie Drop and give me 20’s charleston!” The Jazz Bootcamp will push your jazz/charleston comfort level and vocabulary to the frontline.

Level: Intermediate and up. (But since this is a solo class, all are welcome. Just don’t expect a reteach of Suzie Qs. 🙂

Prerequisites: Knowledge of ~90% of the “Transitions Jazz Steps” linked and listed here is strongly recommended.

Pre-Register now! Listed Under Special Workshops/Troupes.

Song of the Week! September 2nd – Muskrat Ramble

SONG OF THE WEEK

Song: Muskrat Ramble

Artist: Sidney Bechet

Description: A fantastic song and artist that bridgest the gap between the Lindy Hop and the Charleston world. Sidney Bechet has a distinct sound that always swings hard and is a welcome pleasure on any social dance floor. Check it out!