As news about Frankie Manning's passing spreads around the world today, I witnessed an explosion of surprise, grief, and tearful remembrance live on the internet. It was like being surrounded by the voices of hundreds and hundreds of Frankie's friends and fans from around the globe in a collective, ever-changing memorial. It's a fitting tribute…
Tag: frankie manning
Frankie Manning: May 26, 1914 – April 27, 2009
Just posted this to the news section of Yehoodi.com: It is with great regret that we inform you that legendary lindy hopper and inspiration to tens of thousands of dancers around the world Mr. Frankie Manning passed away peacefully early this morning. More information about memorials and an official announcement as we hear it.
Frankie’s time draws near: now it’s our turn… a one, a two…
All indications are that — barring a medical miracle — Frankie Manning does not have long on this plane. My understanding is that he is at this point non-responsive to communication and medications, and that his doctors think that he has at most a day or two left. The outpouring of prayers and good thoughts…
Frankie Manning Health Update: prayers, cards, good energy appreciated
Update from folks who are close by Frankie Manning in the hospital: As you might have heard, Frankie entered the hospital a week and a half ago, due to problems with his medication. Then on Friday, he was taken into the intensive care unit after he developed pneumonia. It is a very serious situation. Although…
Frankie Manning in the hospital: send in those get well cards!
Here's a message from the Frankie 95 Festival organizers about the health of 94-year old legendary lindy hopper Frankie Manning: Frankie is in the hospital and has been there since last Friday. He's being treated for a bad reaction to a medication and will remain in the hospital for poking, prodding and adjusting. He's very…
Hula + Swing = Hula Shim Sham (video)!
Here’s a late but very sweet entry in the “Global Shim Sham” project for Frankie Manning’s 95th Birthday Festival. Check out this beautiful and amazingly choreographed hula dance version of the “Shim Sham”! Here’s how the dancers described why they put these two seemingly very different dance forms together: Many traditional hula celebrate and pay…
Yehoodi Talk Show #513 available: Back and chattier than ever
The long-anticipated episode #513 of the Yehoodi Talk Show podcast is finally available. Spuds and I talk about the upcoming Frankie 95 Birthday Festival in May, the new lindy histories website IamLindyHop.com, and why you should wash your hands after every song at a dance. All that and more silliness on this installment of the Yehoodi…
Lessons from a Successful Viral Media Campaign: 128 “Global Shim Sham” videos (and counting) for Frankie Manning!
View Larger Map When the organizers of the Frankie Manning 95th Birthday Festival cooked up the idea of having lindy hop scenes from all over submit videos of themselves doing the Shim Sham line dance, we had no real expectations for how many would come in, or from where. I remember telling co-organizer Shorty Dave…
Tell your lindy hop story at IamLindyHop.com
Spuds turned me on to this super cool website started by lindy hopper Ben Yau from Pasadena called : IAmLindyHop.com. The purpose of the site is to "gather and share stories of Lindy Hop" from the dancers, musicians, instructors and DJs that keep this artform alive every day. As Ben writes, "each person has a…
The Shim Sham… now in 3D! (video)
Ok, I am sure that my non-dancer friends are sick to death of all of these bloody Shim Sham videos. This is the last one (perhaps) that I'm posting, because it's so stinkin' cool! That's right, it's the Shim Sham, rendered in 3D, by those amazing folks at the Jam Cellar in DC. Here's how…