Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy hop
by Frankie Manning and Cynthia R. Millman
The autobiography of a legendary swing dancer!
(Temple University Press, 2007)
Renowned dancer Frankie Manning presents his riveting life story and most treasured memories in Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop. This memoir details the artist’s childhood; dancing at the fabulous Savoy Ballroom; performing with Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers on Swing Era stages and screens; seeing active duty during World War II; running his own post-war troupe, The Congaroos; and being rediscovered by a new generation of dancers after working in the post office for thirty years! While making a dramatic and heartwarming comeback, Frankie went on to win a Tony Award for his choreography in Broadway’s hit Black and Blue, and helped lead the international swing dance revival by teaching, choreographing, performing, and sharing reminiscences with adoring dancers around the world.
Co-written with swing dancer and librarian Cynthia R. Millman, this beautifully illustrated book has been translated into French, Japanese, Italian, and Chinese. An important part of his rich legacy, we invite you to enjoy Frankie’s inspiring history, both professional and personal, as told directly by him to you.
“Dance writer and swing dancer Millman conducted extensive interviews with Manning for a vivid account of his career. . . . the first-person accounts of Manning’s life capture his vibrancy, humor and charm . . . this vivid memoir by one of swing dancing’s innovators and stars is a must for lovers of dance, jazz and African-American history.”
“And now we have Frankie Manning—master of the oral, written, and dance forms of storytelling. . . . Sit down with the book and you will feel you’ve sat down with Frankie Manning in person to hear the wonderful story of his life.”
Publishers Weekly
SwingDancer.com
“Aside from having biblical stature in the Lindy Hop community, it’s extremely entertaining to the dancer and non-dancer alike. My only complaint is that it was so good I never wanted it to end!”
I couldn’t stop smiling while reading it.”