Hello,
Last night (May 25) I returned from one indescribable weekend in NYC. Yes, the long awaited Frankie Manning 95th Birthday Memorial Tribute (formerly Birthday Celebration) was in full swing. It was everything I expected and some. I don't remember the last time I had so much fun dancing to a live band early into the morning or saw so many incredible live lindy hop/swing dance performances. It must have been over 2000 dancers attending and everyone who is anyone in the swing dance community gathered together to celebrate and honor the legendary Frankie Manning. And they came from all over the world!
Some of my favorites to watch in no particular order include Skye Humphries, Frida Segerdahl, Sylvia Sykes, Norma Miller, Chazz Young, Dawn Hampton, Erin Stevens, Steven Mitchell, Ryan Francois, Jenny Thomas, the Harlem Hotshots, The Northern Lights, and the Silver Shadows. As for my favorite bands they included, George Gee & his Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra, Harlem Renaissance Orchestra, Frank Foster and The Loud Minority, Gordon Webster, Paul Tillotson, Wycliffe Gordon Quartet, and Ron Sunshine and Full Swing.
The event got started on Thursday afternoon with registration. After spending some time with my host family in Brooklyn, I arrived at the Manhattan Center around 9:30pm. Eager to get on the dance floor, I took the elevator up to the 6th floor where the first dance was being held. There must have been close to 1500 people in this colossal room. And I was forwarned more people would be coming in later that night and over the weekend. I danced with folks from Japan, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, California, Texas, Illnois, Florida, New Hampshire, China and North Carolina. What an amazing way to start and I stayed until 3:30am.
The next morning, I had every intention of getting up to attend the Frankie Manning Memorial Service at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church but 9am came around oh to quickly so I just didn't make it up. Instead, I set my sights on getting into Central Park before 1pm where more activities were scheduled to occur.
However, finding a place to park in NYC proved to be quite a challenge and turned into what I learned is a typical experience for many visitors. I got stuck in traffic and most garages were asking $40-$50 a day for parking. I managed to find a place on the lower East side (55st & 1st Ave) for $27 and in my haste almost locked my keys in the car. Fortunately, the parking attendant noticed my passenger side door was unlocked and saved me from a lot of anxiety. I took a taxi and met up with some swing dance friends from CT.
We awaited the arrival of the above New Orleans style Funeral procession which traversed from the church down the streets of NYC into Central Park. Also, in Central Park, there was an attempt to set a Guinness Book of World Records for the largest Jack & Jill Swing Dance Contest. I don't know what the current record is but I'd say there had to be at least 500 people participating in this attempt!
Last year, I remember hearing that Frankie donated a very large collection of personal t-shirts he acquired from around the world to be made into a quilt and auctioned off at the festival. Below is a picture of the designer and the Frankie Quilt.
I have since learned the winning bid for this quilt was won by one of my NYC swing dancer friends Lana Turner for more than $12,500! I'll have to inquires as to her plans for where it will reside. It seems something of this significance belongs in a National Museum like the Schomburg in Harlem or Smithsonian in DC.
There were countless highlights and incredible moments I witnessed. The last and certainly not least I will mention was the show on Frankie's life which I found out was written, produced and directed by Ryan Francois, Jenny Thomas and Naomi Uyama with contributions to other performers and dancers.
Attending Frankie 95 was a dream come true for me because it actually happened just the way imagined the swing era would have been like. Between the variety of tributes, performances, workshops, panel discussions, videos, period costumes, live bands and many new friends I met, it will one of my most treasured memories!
If you want to see videos from the weekend and other tributes to Mr. Manning, there are some good ones on the following weblinks:
Frankie 95th Birthday Festival
http://vwluong.blip.tv
http://www.youtube.com/user/Lindylibrary
http://www.youtube.com/user/mahvelous
Global Shim Sham Highlights
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTFh_Ty6YcE
Never Stop Swinging (28 min. Documentuary)
http://www.thirteen.org/sundayarts/frankie-manning-never-stop-swinging/291
Frankie Manning's Funeral Services
http://www.youtube.com//user/vwluong
I was so enthralled that I didn't take very many photos but I am sharing what I have. Hope you will do the same. My gratitude goes out to all of the organizers and volunteers who help make it all possible.
Enjoy,
Greg
