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Frankie Manning Foundation

@frankiemanningfoundation

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Carrying on the work and spirit of Frankie Manning in spreading the joy of Lindy Hop.
#FrankieManning #LindyHop #FrankieMonth

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The Savoy Story is the official 25th anniversary booklet produced by the ballroom’s management in 1951. Although clearly a PR tool, this rare document provides a unique and fascinating perspective on the ballroom's history, musicians, dancing, and community.

Accessible online through the New York Public Library Digital Collections, this publication is housed at The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, an invaluable archive in Harlem supporting those interested in all aspects of Black history.

https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/23d127a0-db5c-0139-a4dc-0242ac110002?canvasIndex=0

**link in bio!**

#blackhistory #Savoy100 #blackdancehistory #LindyHop #SAVOYBallroom #jazzhistory #Savoy #TheSavoyStory #NYPLDigitalCollections by @frankiemanningfoundation

As the 100th anniversary year of the opening of the Savoy Ballroom heads into its final months, we'd like to devote several posts to highlighting educational resources about the Savoy.

First up is Bobby White's fascinating article, replete with links to historical press clippings, photographs, advertisements, maps, and videos:

https://swungover.wordpress.com/2026/03/12/happy-100th-savoy-ballroom/

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#blackdancehistory #lindyhop #blackhistory #jazzhistory #Savoy #LindyHop #Savoy100 #SAVOYBallroom by @frankiemanningfoundation

Swingin’ Into the Community Program: FMF Ambassador Samuel Coleman’s Youth Community Lindy Hop Residency is dedicated to local, community-based NYC dance schools, kicking off at Stop #1: Harlem School of the Arts. Partnering with FMF Scholar Candice Franklin.

Leon James daughter Rebecca and son Oliver joined us.

Presented by the Frankie Manning Foundation. by @frankiemanningfoundation

FMF Scholar Candice Michelle Franklin-Cox shares some unique insights and inspiration from attending Camp Jitterbug 2026, May 24-27 in Seattle with Al Minns Next Generation Project.

“Not only was Camp Jitterbug a wonderful opportunity to take advanced classes in Lindy Hop and hone my technique with other wonderful dancers, but also a transformative experience that allowed me time to connect more closely with legendary Lindy hopper luminaries Ms. Sugar Sullivan, Ms. Barbara Billups, and Mr. Chester Whitmore,” Franklin-Cox writes. Read the entire story in the FMF blog!

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#candicemichellefranklincox #scholarsprogram #alminnsnextgenerationprogect #campjitterbug #barbarabillups #sugarsullivan #chesterwhitmore by @frankiemanningfoundation

Throughout her long and multifaceted career as a dancer, musician, and entertainer, Dawn Hampton performed at the famed Continental Baths (a gay NYC bathhouse), coached Bette Midler, and shared stages with some of the most celebrated drag performers of her era. Her relationships within the LGBTQIA+ community profoundly shaped both her artistic philosophy and her approach to dance. Long before concepts such as switch dancing gained wider recognition, Dawn moved fluidly between leading and following, emphasizing musicality, self-expression, and authenticity above rigid dance roles.

As noted by Adam Brozowski, Dawn encouraged dancers to prioritize “feeling the music” and “being yourself” above all else. Themes that he believes were informed by Dawn’s experiences within New York City's gay community remain relevant and inspiring to queer dancers and the broader dance world today. She also shared with Brozowski that the HIV/AIDS crisis devastated her community, saying it had taken both her “family” and her audience.

This video, compiled by Adam Brozowski, highlights Dawn’s reflections on music, identity, dance roles, and her connection to the LGBTQIA+ community. It offers a glimpse into the values that shaped her life and artistry: individuality, joy, and human connection.

The compilation includes footage from interviews with Ryan Swift; excerpts from a New York City performance of Dawn and the Dawnettes, an all-female Lindy hop show featuring Dawn, Sylvia Sykes, and Jocelyn Hassenfeld; and a live recording of one of Dawn’s cabaret performances filmed in a New York City gay bar during the mid 1960’s.

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#pridemonth #LGBTQIAHistory #jazz #lindyhop #blackdancehistory ##DawnHampton #adambrozowski by @frankiemanningfoundation

Happy Pride Month!

Here are a few songs to add to your playlist, celebrating the invaluable contributions of members of the LGBTQ+ community to jazz and blues histories!

Bill Strayhorn: Lush Life

Gertrude ‘Ma’ Rainey: Prove It On Me Blues

Frank Sinatra & Count Basie:: Fly Me To The Moon (composed by Bart Howard)

Billie Holiday: You Go To My Head

You can explore the importance of black queer history to the Harlem Renaissance from this excellent article by the Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of African American History & Culture.

You can also read background on the abovementioned tunes and find many more for your Pride Month jazz and blues dance balls from the Pride Playlists by jazz.fm91!

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#pridemonth #LGBTQIAHistory #blues #BillieHoliday #billstrayhorn #MaRainey #barthoward #jazz by @frankiemanningfoundation

We are excited to introduce the 2026 FMF Scholars!

After many thoughtful conversations and careful consideration, we have selected six truly exceptional scholars and event locations from around the world. Each individual brings a unique and inspiring background and a deep passion for sharing the dance within their local communities. Their dedication, enthusiasm, and commitment to fostering connection through dance made them stand out among an incredibly strong group of candidates.

Candice Franklin (Harlem, NYC, USA) – Camp Jitterbug, Seattle
Samie Archer (Montreal, Canada) – Beantown, USA
Christina Marable (Virginia, USA) – Beantown, USA
Marlise Gilliam (Michigan, USA) – The Old School Madrid, Spain
Shivi Chandna (Uttar Pradesh, India) – Swing Era Bangkok, Thailand
Joy Celina Mejia (Metro Manilla, Philippines) – Swingtime Ball, Beijing, China

Congratulations!

Julia Loving, Frankie Manning Foundation & Swing With Us NYC
Sing Lim, SwingStation Singapore

#lindyhop #jazzdance #dance #jazz #swingdance #swing #scholarsprogram by @frankiemanningfoundation

June 9th, 2026 would have been the 98th birthday of musician, dancer, writer, and mentor Dawn Hampton!

Dawn started to sing and dance at the age of three in the family band established by her parents, Clarke and Laura Hampton. During her exceptional career in show business, Dawn performed at venues of all kinds and sizes, from warehouses to the legendary Savoy Ballroom. The Hampton Family Band also opened for Lionel Hampton at Carnegie Hall.

During her solo career, Dawn became a well-stablished performer on the New York cabaret scene, and wrote a show, "Greenwich Village, U.S.A.," which ran off-Broadway for a year. Since the 1980’s, Dawn shared her unique insights on dance and show business, as well as her unparalleled stage presence, with audiences around the world.

As the "New York Times’" review of her cabaret performance from 1982 summarizes: “Dawn Hampton has such a personal, individual way of doing things that she defies conventional categorizing. . . Miss Hampton has a deep well of emotional energy and spends it recklessly and joyously.” (www.nytimes.com/1982/06/03/arts/cabaret-dawn-hampton.html)

Read more on Dawn Hampton’s extraordinary life story in the obituary by Stephanie Robinson: www.syncopatedtimes.com/remembering-dawn-hampton

Or watch the documentary "The Unforgettable Hampton Family" from 2011 (www.imdb.com/title/tt6165728)

Please enjoy this video of Dawn Hampton’s 70th birthday jam in June 1998:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auHJrlBu5EU

You are welcome to post your photographs and memories of Dawn in the comments!

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Dawn Hampton Birthday Special Giveaway!!! Free copy of award-winning filmmaker Julie Cohen's PBS documentary about Dawn and her multi-talented siblings: "The Unforgettable Hampton Family." If interested, please message the Frankie Manning Foundation or Judy Pritchett with your mailing address. Please note: we can only mail within the U.S. by @frankiemanningfoundation

The Frankie Manning Foundation wishes to remember and honor the life of Skip Cunningham, a spectacular tap dancer and singer who passed recently at the age of ninety.

He performed as part of the 2008 Century Ballroom’s Masters of Lindy Hop & Tap event, along with Norma Miller, Dawn Hampton, Sugar Sullivan, Barbara Ann Billups, Jeni LeGon, Chazz Young, Frankie Manning, and Chester Whitmore, who also served as MC.

Please enjoy this video of Skip, courtesy of Century Ballroom:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMfE-btDbGo

Here’s a link to the full performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s_s-61YEdA

** links in bio** by @frankiemanningfoundation

Today, on May 26th, we celebrate Frankie Manning’s 112th birthday and World Lindy Hop Day, which started in 2014.

Frankie felt very fortunate to be able to share his birthdays with Lindy hoppers around the world.

In 1999, Frankie celebrated his 85th with a fabulous party at the famed Roseland Ballroom in New York City. As part of the festivities, a pair of Frankie’s shoes was added to a lobby display case alongside those of other famous dancers, including, Fred Astaire, Savion Glover, and Gregory Hines. Events in Munich, San Francisco, and Catalina also brought dancers together. At each, Frankie danced with 85 partners and the crowd enjoyed birthday cake!

Please enjoy this video of Frankie dancing with Norma Miller on his 85th birthday at the Roseland Ballroom!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_2q1rXXEcE

We hope you are enjoying World Lindy Hop Day dance, wherever you are celebrating!

frankiemanningfoundation.org/frankie-month

**links in bio!** by @frankiemanningfoundation

May 25th is internationally celebrated as National Tap Dance Day. This day was chosen to commemorate the birthday and legacy of Bill “Bojangles” Robinson (May 25, 1878 - November 25, 1949).

Tap dancing and Lindy hop historically have a close connection, with overlapping roots, music, venues, steps, and dancers.

The Flo-Bert Awards, given out from 1991-2013 as part of National Tap Dance Day, honored dozens of dancers, musicians, producers, writers, and organizations, including Frankie Manning in 2004 (https://www.florencemills.com/flobert.htm).

Did you know that Robinson first introduced his legendary stair dance in 1918 at the Palace Theatre in New York City? Even though he didn’t succeed in his attempt to patent this dance, it remains one of the benchmark performances in tap dance history. (source: https://goldenglobes.com/.../forgotten-hollywood-bill.../)

This famous recording of the stair dance was made in 1932. Wishing you all a copacetic National Tap Dance Day!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj1KYaCIA5o

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#nationaltapdanceday #tapdance #billrobinson #flobertawards #frankiemanning #stairdance by @frankiemanningfoundation

May 26th is celebrated as World Lindy Hop Day and Frankie Manning’s birthday! There are many ways to participate in this global celebration. How about throwing a swingin’ dance party that is collaborative and inclusive by connecting with other dancers and organizers to unite your community? You can find more ideas on
frankiemanningfoundation.org/frankie-month

You can also celebrate by enjoying this video of Frankie Manning and Chazz Young doing the shim sham in 1998 (video credit: Swing it Seattle) – feel free to dance along!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JeILPb5kWE

**links in bio!** by @frankiemanningfoundation