The Board of Advisors of the Frankie Manning Foundation welcomes Tena Morales-Armstrong!

The Frankie Manning Foundation Board of Advisors is thrilled to welcome Tena Morales-Armstrong as the newest member of the board.

Tena Morales-Armstrong is a dedicated promoter and producer of several national dance events. She is currently co-producer of the International Lindy Hop Championships, Lindyfest, the Houston Jazz Dance Festival and International Swing Dance Championships. In the past she has also produced Atlanta’s Swing and Soul Weekend and the Frankie Manning 95th Birthday celebration. She has served as the Artistic Director of the Houston Hepcats and is also a National Lindy Hop Champion who has placed in the top three places in numerous Classic and Master divisions. She and her students won several 1st place titles in the American Lindy Hop Championship Pro-Am division. Tena Morales is an exciting choreographer and dancer, whose improvisations and innate musicality bring a unique “Old Skool Flava” to the Lindy Hop.

A nationally renowned swing dance teacher and judge, Tena has hosted the international “Hellzapoppin” dance contest at the World Famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem in conjunction with the Harlem Jazz Dance Festival and has served as a main judge for Camp Jitterbug, US Open, American Lindy Hop Championships, National Hand Dance Association and the Ultimate Lindy Hop Showdown .

Tena Morales is an exciting choreographer and dancer, whose improvisations and innate musicality bring a unique “Old Skool Flava” to the Lindy Hop. Tena grew up in the urban sophisticated atmosphere of the metropolitan D.C. area where “Hand Dancing” or “Fast Dance”reigns supreme. Tena takes her natural dancing abilities and fuses it with the individual Texas/Louisiana regional swing dance styles of Zydeco and “Swing-Out.” Both two forms of partner dancing that are still very popular in that region of the country. Having taught hundreds across the country and trained many champions from the Houston Swing Dance Society, she has gained the admiration and respect of many.

1. International Swing Dance Championships , May 2018, Houston, TX. theISDC.com

2. International Lindy Hop Championships – August 2018, Washington DC. ILHC.com

3. Lone Star Championships at Lindyfest – March 2019, Houston, TX. lindyfest.hsds.org

There’s no doubt that the board is in good hands with you joining us. Welcome aboard, Tena! 

To learn about the other board members, click here.