Honoring a Great Man

I was in a hotel room in Atlanta when I learned that legendary Lindy Hopper, Frankie Manning

 had passed away at the age of 94.  Frankie was one of the original Lindy Hoppers in the Savoy Ballroom and a member of a group that called Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.  He can be seen in many films, including A Day at the Races, and Hellzapopin.    After taking a long break from dancing, he hit the floor again in the 80's and began spreading his passion for the dance. He toured the world teaching, choreographing, telling stories, and spreading his love of life Lindy.  

I began swing dancing (mainly Lindy Hop) in 1996.  My highschool weekends were spent in vintage clothes swinging out in front of live band and eating pasta.  My passion for the dance

 even took me to a 2 week camp in Sweeden.   I've been lucky enough to see him in person a few times and he has been a constant symbol of joy, life and general kick-buttedness.  I don't get many chances to dance socially these days, but when I do, it always feels like home.

Frankie passed away April 27th, and I was not scheduled to be back in NYC for another few weeks.  So, I had to miss the funeral service. However, I was able to attend (with my friend and fellow long time Lindy Hopper, Jen Brooks) the Memorial Service  that was held as a part of Frankie's 95 Birthday Celebration.   I know that my words can not do the service justice.  It was a perfect memorial filled with stories, laughter, gratitude, music and of course dance. After the service at 5th Ave Presbyterian, we followed Dave Otswalds Gully Low Jazz Band in a traditional New Orleans Style 2nd Line procession that ended with a dance at the Bandshell in Central Park. I felt so proud to be a part of the GIGANTIC group holding parasols, scarves and pictures of Frankie through the streets of NYC.  Jen and stayed and danced in the park for a bit, and then went to another dance at the Hammerstein Ballroom. It was a great day.

As I said, I don't get a chance to dance much now.... but I can't deny that the years I spent social dancing have shaped all that I am and all that I do now. I often seek to fill my life with joy, improvisation and general kookiness. I know the days I spent swinging out for hours on end lit a light in my heart that will never go out. 

Thank you, Frankie, for all of the joy you've spread.  I, for one, will do my best to continue to spread it with your smile in my heart. 

1996ish - We all used to dance to bands like Red and the Red Hots at Disneyland every weekend

Jenn Salvadori and I camping it up at Dinsey.  While I'm sure I have amazing black mail videos of Jenn when she first started dancing, she and her man Justin Zillman are my favorite dancers to watch.  Find them and get them to a dance floor near you! AND.. watch them here... ridic!

1996 - My first dance partner Shesha Marvin.-If you are in Southern California, check him out for lessons.

At one point, even both Pastors started dancing on the Alter! This was a perfect Memorial Service.

Dancing with Jen in the Park.  We've worked together at Ellen's Stardust Diner, and FREAKED when we discovered we both Lindy Hopped. I'm so lucky I have an NYC friend who dances. 

 Dancing with Cody Mui at the Ballroom after the Memorial Service.

At last... the begining

This is one of my first Dance Recitals.....

This is my first show at The Music Room. I played Peter Pan : )

     About a year ago my fiance and I started formulating a plan..... I call it our 10 year plan, but we really have no time limit set.  Our plan is to open our own Dance/Music/Theatre studio for children(and adults) with a yarn store/coffee shop/performance space attached. Now... I know this is a gigantic plan.  BUT, I really think we can make it happen!

      When I was a kid, I went to a musical theatre studio called The Music Room School of Performing Arts.  My Mom always called it "The Church of the Music Room", because it was such a great source of positivity and happiness as we were growing up. There were no religious affiliations, it just kept us happy and kept us out of trouble.  The studio had two large dance rooms, a few smaller piano rooms, and a lobby with a few chairs.  Many of the parents would sit in the lobby while we were in class, but there wasn't much there to keep them busy.  Other parents would hang in their cars, in the parking lot.  How great would it have been if the parents could have been sitting in a LYS, taking their own class next door! Crocheting, Knitting or Felting while your children hone their craft! 

      What's better than spreading more love of art, and craftiness?  Food and drink while you work on what you love (or while you do homework).  We want to have a cafe with sandwiches, salads, juice, smoothies, tea and fresh roasted coffee.  When I was a student at The Music Room, the studio shared a parking lot with a Carl's Junior.  Somehow, we ended up spending most of our homework time between classes at this fast food joint. They had a salad bar, and the employees were all very nice.  But, I can't help but thinking how nice it'd be to have had a little cafe next door that was run by the fantastic couple who owned The Music Room (Sharon and Lee Westenhoffer).  

      And... how about a more "grown-up" cafe/wine/cheese bar at night.  In our wildest dreams of this complex, we see a small performance space.  How great to have a venue for our friends (and students) to share their music. I'd love to teach our students how to put together their own songs,  sets, or even full evenings of music.  

      In addition to taking many classes at The Music Room, I started teaching there when I was 16.  I continued to teach there all the way through college.  I so clearly remember the day I finally confessed that I just couldn't manage to continue teaching while pursuing my own career as a performer.  Boy... was that convo filled with a lot of tears.  I loved teaching and, while I feel so lucky to be a WORKING ACTRESS, I know I want to teach again someday.  My fiance also has several years of teaching experience.  He worked with an AMAZING nonprofit called First Stage Children's Theatre,  and the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra.  I could go on and on about those studios, but I'll save that for a later post. 

     I am so grateful for the millions of hours I spent at The Music Room. It provided a fantastic foundation for a fearless imagination and a place to work on my craft in a supportive, loving environment.  I'm even more excited about the idea of providing future generations with a similar playground.