Dancing with Frankie: Erin Stevens

In this new series, we ask dancers who knew Frankie to share what they learned from him and what of those teachings they have taken to their students and scene. Erin shares her memories and her favorite photos of her with Frankie.

How you are involved in the Lindy hop community?

Frankie Manning and Erin Stevens in Germany

My sister and I opened our dance business, Pasadena Ballroom Dance Association (PBDA), in 1983, dedicated to teaching American social dances, and started teaching Lindy Hop in 1984. To this day we teach large group classes and private lessons in Lindy Hop, and every Saturday night we host a swing dance with live bands. (I made Frankie a promise that we would always support live music). Over the years we have run numerous camps and workshops. We are best known for our "Swing Camp Catalina" which we ran on Catalina Island for ten years from 1994 to 2004 with guest teachers from around the globe, including Frankie, and we also held May and November Frankie Manning weekends annually. We ran the "Jump, Jive, Boogie Swing Party" at Disneyland for seven years, bringing in bands and guest Lindy Hop performance troupes. I also toured and taught with Frankie around the world from approximately 1989 to 2001 (until the birth of my second child).

How did you meet Frankie?

I first met Frankie in 1986. My story has been well documented... I was on a search for the roots of Lindy Hop, and looking for any original dancers. I first found Al Minns in 1984, and discovered Frankie two years later, after seeing his picture in an old Life Magazine. I found his phone number in a New York phone book at my local library in California. When I first called him I said "Are you Frankie Manning the Lindy Hopper?" and he said "No, I'm Frankie Manning the Postal Worker! ...But I USED to be Frankie Manning the Lindy Hopper!" He agreed to meet me if I came to New York, and after we met, he agreed to work with me.

Frankie wasn't used to teaching at that time, but I always say after dancing one dance with him, I understood the heart and soul of the Lindy Hop. My life was forever changed.

What was an important lesson learned from Frankie that you brought back to your scene?

After meeting Frankie, I was more dedicated and determined to help keep Lindy Hop alive.

Anything else you'd like us to know/share?

He was an amazing man with a kind heart and an infectious laugh, who loved sharing his love for the Lindy Hop.

-Erin Stevens