A Day At The Races

Every Friday for thirty weeks, I will write about a topic from the list of the
«30 Week Lindy Hop Challenge«.

We're reaching the middle of the series.

Week #15: Classic Clip «A Day At The Races»

Beside Hellzapoppin (who would have thought it?…), there's another classic clip I can watch again and again:

That's a very lively clip, there's so much going on. I love Ivie Anderson, the dancing fat man is cult and of course the inspiring Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, although without Frankie Manning!

It was another group of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers dancing in this clip. At that time, Frankie was performing with his group at the Cotton Club in New York.

Frankie writes in his book [easyazon-link asin=»1592135641″ locale=»us»]Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop[/easyazon-link]:

«Some people think that I choreographed Day at the Races, but I don't say that. Before the Ethel Waters group left New York, each couple did their own solo, and I coached them and gave them suggestions about where to put steps. This is where their individuality came out.

Then I gave them the ensemble section, which included the horses that are done at the end of the scene. […]

The routine was shortened in the movie, so I can't say they did exactly what I choreographed, but it's fair to say that I was partly responsible. […]»

Frankie wasn't jealous that not his group got to be in the movies. To be performing at the Cotton Club was a big deal!

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