Uptown Swing Celebrates Frankie Manning!
May is Frankie Month and Lindy Hoppers worldwide will be celebrating this very special man. There isn’t a better example than Frankie Manning to remind us of the joy and fun we have dancing! If you don’t know much about him, be sure to check out his bio. Of course the night would not be complete without a Shim Sham, Frankie style!
Proceeds from this dance will be contributed to the Beantown Scholarship Program.
The Frankie Manning Foundation was established with Frankie’s passing to carry on his legacy. We’ve been honored to have Beantown Camp as part of the Ambassador Program, which provides scholarships to support the growth and development of new ambassadors of Lindy Hop. Recipients are primarily selected from African-American communities throughout the USA as well as areas around the world where Lindy Hop is in a very early stage of development.
The experience is often life-changing, and it is wonderful to watch them grow as individuals and dancers and begin to help teach future generations. Starting in 2014, Beantown began collecting funds to help bring past ambassadors back to camp as many do not have the means to do so on their own. There is no charge to attend camp, however funds are needed to cover housing, meals and travel.
Music this month will be provided by guest DJs Kevin Lin, Katie Piselli and Stan Yen! We’ll be dancing to Frankie’s favorites as well as music from the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem. This means Count Basie, Chick Webb, Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Erskine Hawkins, and more. You know it will be swingin’!
The dance lesson is at 8:30pm and social dancing at 9:15pm. This is a slight adjustment to the usual schedule.
- Swing lesson: 8:30pm, included with the dance
- Dancing: 9:15pm-12:00am
- Special performances with Katie’s Riff Academy and Hop to the Beat
- Shim Sham, Frankie Style!
- Big Apple, the Frankie version of course!
- Proceeds go to the Beantown Scholarship Program
Admission: $12 ($8 with Student ID)