Swing Dance History

Brief History of Swing Dance

Swing Dance encompasses many dances.  I think of Swing Dance as East Coast Swing, and Lindy Hop.  East Coast is a six count dance, and Lindy Hop is an eight count dance.  East Coast Swing came from Lindy Hop.  Lindy Hop started in the late 1920s and Twist Mouth George introduced the step at the Savoy Ballroom.  However, Twist Mouth George didn’t come up with the name, Shorty Snowden did.  Shorty drew inspiration from newspaper headlines, LINDYS HOP, about Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic (Govenar, 2004).  The Savoy Ballroom is one of the main avenues where this dance grew and developed. 

There are many important dancers to talk about, however, I will discuss Frankie Manning and Norma Miller.  They both have seen Lindy Hop grow and evolve over many years.  Frankie Manning helped grow the dance until he died and Norma Miller is still alive.

Norma Miller

One of the original Lindy Hoppers is still alive today, Norma Miller.  Norma Miler danced at the Savoy for the first time when she was twelve.  She was dancing outside the Savoy when Twist Mouth George called her over, and asked her to dance with him.   She didn’t dance as a regular at the Savoy till she was a teenager.  As a teenager she went to Europe with another dance couple from the Savoy (Govenar, 2004).  Norma Miller started dancing professionally with adults when she was just a teenager, and she never stopped dancing. 

I actually met Norma Miller and she signed a copy of her children’s book for me, Stompin’ at the Savoy: The story of Norma Miller. 

Frankie Manning

Frankie Manning was instrumental in Swing Dance.  He also danced at the Savoy.  At the Savoy he introduced the first air step over the back.  He also introduced the concept of slow motion Lindy Hop, which won him a contest.  He kept tying for first place and after a few rounds, he added the slow motion concept, which won him the contest.  In the late 1980s he helped revive Swing Dance.  He started by teaching a couple to dance.  The couple specifically sought him out and he agreed to teach them.  After that, his teaching career took off, and he worked on multiple dance projects.  He also worked with Norma Miller on a few choreographs and other projects for dance and movies. 

(Manning & Millman, 2007)

Govenar A. (2004). Stompin’ at the Savoy: The story of Norma Miller.  Somerville, MA:  Candlewick.

Manning F & Millman C. (2007). Frankie Manning ambassador of Lindy hop. Philadelphia, PA:  Temple University Press.