Remembering Charlie Meade (1931-2026)

We were sad to receive the news that dancer Charlie Meade (born Harold Meade in 1931, Jamaica) has passed away. 

During his dance career, Charlie worked with Buddy Bradley’s dance group in London in the 1950’s, also touring around Europe. He performed several roles in the 1963 film “Cleopatra," starring Elizabeth Taylor, which was filmed in Rome, including dancer and guard. Since the 1980’s, Charlie regularly performed Lindy hop and jazz dance routines with his long-time dance partner Margaret Batiuchok, and at times with others, including Dawn Hampton, Karen Goldstein, and Teddy Kern. At the annual Lincoln Center Midsummer Night Swing festival in New York City, Margaret and Charlie often performed and led the shim sham. 

Please enjoy this video homage to Charlie Meade: talented, elegant, and beloved by the swing dance community:

1.    Charlie was a talented tap dancer. Here he demonstrates some tap dance steps.

2.    A section of an interview with Charlie, conducted and filmed by Jocelyn Hassenfeld and Stuart Math.

3.    Charlie and Margaret demonstrate their smooth and playful style of Lindy hop and jazz dance at the American Lindy Hop Championships in 1998. (Credit: American Lindy Hop Championships)

4.    Another wonderful demonstration of Charlie dancing with Karen Goldstein and Teddy Kern. (Credit: American Swing Dance Championships, 1994. Posted by Tony Azar)

5.    More beautiful dancing from Charlie and swing dance icon, Dawn Hampton, also at the American Lindy Hop Championships in 1998. (Credit: American Lindy Hop Championships. Posted by Tony Azar.)

The Board of the Frankie Manning Foundation extends their deepest condolences to Charlie’s wife, Lynn Ringhaver and their families.

Charlie Meade and Lynn Ringhaver. (Photo credit: Malin Grahn-Wilder)

Charlie Meade showing a photo album displaying his career as a performer. (Photo credit: Malin Grahn-Wilder)

L to R: Ronald Jones, Judy Pritchett, Mickey Davidson, Magaret Batiuchok, Charlie Meade, Kenneth Johnson, Julia Loving, Kazzandra Greene. 1st Generations of Harlem Lindy Hop panel discussion about where dancing took place in Harlem and what it was like. (Photo credit: Swing With Us NYC)

Charlie Meade dancing with Lynn Ringhaver. (Photo credit: Swing With Us NYC)