Thank you to the 9:20 Special in San Francisco for this guest post. They’re organizing a Frankie Celebration as part of Frankie Month in May and this list of Frankie’s Favorite Steps is part of that effort.
Initially Compiled by Laura Jeffers, Edited by Rik Panganiban, April 2016
With Frankie Manning’s birthday coming up, some of us in San Francisco thought it would be helpful if we all had a list of “iconic” Frankie Manning steps, for use in teaching about Frankie and choreographing performances in his honor. Surprisingly, such a list does not seem to exist.
After all, while very few of might be able to perform “Hellzapoppin,” we can all Peck, Messaround and Slip Slop in Frankie’s honor for his birthday.
Laura Jeffers is the director of the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers, the New York City-based performance troupe co-founded by Frankie Manning. Laura trained for many years under Frankie Manning, and continues to share and teach his choreography and steps. Laura put together this list of Frankie Manning favorite steps, e.g. not steps that Frankie invented (although he did invent some of them), but ones that he performed, taught and choreographed often. Laura has also helpfully including video links for some of the steps that might be unfamiliar to some.
This list is not meant to be exhaustive but inspirational. Please use this as a starting point for teaching about Frankie Manning, creating new choreographies inspired by him, and sharing his legacy wherever you are. Feel free share widely and to provide us feedback and questions to our Twitter, Facebook or to news@yehoodi.com.
Partnered Steps
Around the World
Choo Choo
Jig Walk
Mess Around
Mini-dip
Pecks
Quick Stop
Quick Turn
Sailor Kicks
Skates
Slip-slop
Stop Reverse
Texas Tommy
Twirls and Points (called Point & Curl in Sweden)
Windmill
Swingout Variations
Chasse
Crossover
Heel Step
Kick Away
Scissor Step
Sweep and Shake
Jazz Steps
Apple Jacks
Boogie Back
Boogie Forward
Charlie Chaplin
Chase
Drop Boogie
Eagle Slide (sometimes called Eddie Eagle)
Fall Off the Log
Fishtail
Gaze Afar
Hitch Hike
Itches
Knee Slap
Ride the Pony
Scare Crow
Shorty George
Sis-kaboom-bah
Skip Up
Spank the Baby
Stomp Off
Suzie Q
Tacky Annie
Tap Break
Charlestons Variations
Crossover
Flying Charleston
Front to Back
Hand to Hand
Jump Charleston
Side by Side
Squat Charleston
Turnover
Aerials and Tricks
Around the Back
Hand Spring (aka the Pancake)
Knickerbocker
Over the Back
Over the Shoulder
Russian Kick
Shoot Through
Side Lift
Side Flip
The Snatch
Toss Out
Thanks so much, Laura Jeffers, for compiling this list for the lindy hop community!