Shuffle Projects

Swinging Projects for Lindy Hop & Balboa Dancers

Frankie Manning

Happy Frankie 99

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For Frankie Manning's 99th birthday, Ewa Burak and Lennart Westerlund choreographed the Global 99 Choreo and the Frankie Manning Foundation asked the worldwide swing dance scene to send a clip of that choreography from their hometown.

Global 99 Choreo from Zürich Switzerland

A group of dancers from Zürich filmed that clip at the weekly open-air event Bürklihop, which is happening every Thursday evening during the summer months.

Filmed and edited by Stefan Deuber.

Check out The Frankie Manning Birthday Blog for all the other contributions.

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #143: Splanky

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With «Let's Do The Hop» – a compilation of songs closely linked to Frankie Manning – the Cologne/Germany based group «Hop Spot» just released a non-profit CD.

100% of the profit from selling this CD goes directly to the Frankie Manning Foundation.

I've chosen Dawn Hampton's selection for the CD «Splanky» as our Song of the Week.

George Gee Swing Orchestra

On «Let's Do The Hop», the version of this Count Basie classical is performed by the George Gee Swing Orchestra.

Without Count Basie, there wouldn't be a George Gee Swing Orchestra, though:

His college radio show was a huge hit! The station asked George to interview his idol – William «Count» Basie – before a campus concert. That extensive, exclusive conversation would change George’s life forever.

The next day, he assembled his own 17-piece big band – the Make-Believe Ballroom Orchestra! Staffed by student players, the band quickly became the darling of the campus community.

That was back April 26, 1980, when George Gee, a Chinese-American born in New York, started his big band when actually no one was interested in big band jazz.

In 1998, Gee formed his 10-piece band «Jump, Jive & Wailers» and put a new twist on big band favorites and delivered all-out «rollickin’ roadhouse boogie»! (Quote from his website).

With this group, which George lovingly calls his “Economy Big Band,” they have been able to travel around the United States and the world headlining swing and Lindy Hop dance events.

Splanky

Splanky was written by Neal Hefti, who worked with Count Basie from 1950-1962. The song first appeared on the album «Count Basie Big Band» from 1954.

This tune is a classical among Lindy Hoppers. It contains a lot of breaks and energy changes, simply great for improvising!

"Let's Do The Hop" Frankie ManningTitle: Splanky
Artist: George Gee Swing Orchestra
Recorded: 2005
Album: Let's Do The Hop
Tempo: 132 bpm
Dance: Lindy Hop



Click the link to order CD (15€ + 5€ shipping)
and support the Frankie Manning Foundation:
www.frankiemanning.de (Link is not active anymore)


Do you like to dance to «Splanky»? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!


Every Monday, I post a new «Song of the Week«.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

Related Songs:

Song of the Week #142: «Zormpas› Story» by The Speakeasies› Swing Band!
Song of the Week #141: «Summit Ridge Drive» by Billy Jack Wills & His Western Swing Band
Song of the Week #140: «Port Of Rico» by Illinois Jacquet
Song of the Week #139: «Blues Skies» by Cyril Blake
Song of the Week #138: «Minor Jive» by Roy Eldridge

30 Week Lindy Hop Challenge: Favorite Classic Clip

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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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30 Week Lindy Hop Challenge: Your Favorite Instructor

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30 Week Lindy Hop Challenge on Shuffle Projects

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

Here is my topic of this week

Week #8: Instructors, who have inspired me a lot

There is no such thing as a favorite instructor.

They all are different. Some of them I adore, some of them I don't like that much. That's normal, isn't it?

So, how should I choose THE one. Impossible, at least to me.

Therefore, I'm going to tell you, who of the instructors inspire/d me most and why.

Johnny Lloyd

Johnny was my first Lindy Hop teacher. When I started with Lindy Hop in 1999, he was one of the most influential people in the swing scene in Switzerland. I liked his smooth and elegant style. He taught a lot about lead & follow and didn't focus on crazy moves.

Frankie Manning

Of course, I have to mention Frankie. He was not only a huge inspiration as a instructor, but also as a human being. And his hearty laughter is legendary.

Peter Loggins

Peter's shuffle style inspired me a lot. I spent hours to learn and practice the shuffle steps to finally create my own style.

Marie Nahnfeldt & Hasse Mattsson

Their warm and friendly style of teaching stands alone. I don't know any dancer who doesn't like taking classes with these guys.

I once had a private lesson with Hasse and we were working on the swing-out. Hasse just said to me how to start the swing-out: «invite her». I tell you, these two words changed the way I do the swing-out forever!

Nick Williams

Two things I really like about Nick: His ability to break down moves, no matter how difficult they are, and his marvelous musicality. No idea, how I can nearly get there 😉

Carla LaRue Heiney

Carla's professionalism as an instructor impressed me a lot.

It was in Eauze at SHSC, when I asked her after a class about the move we just learned. It was a quite difficult body movement the lead had to do. Carla danced with me, backled the move and I understood it within two minutes, what I couldn't figure out during the whole class.

Sylvia Sykes

Sylvia has this dry sense of humor. I learned a lot from her and I use many of her explanations in my own classes. And, I just like her!

Laura Keat

Laura is very empathetic and she can give you feedback that is really helpful and pushes you forward. I try to be as helpful as a teacher as she is.


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>> Next Friday: #9 Favorite class taken

DJ Chrisbe’s Song of the Week #98: Wednesday Night Hop

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I have to bring this song, it's too good, although it might be a little bit overplayed right now, especially on the Balboa dance floors.

Well, some of you might know the song from «Lindy Chorus«, a routine choreographed by Frankie Manning. If you don't know what I'm talking about, here is an example of «Lindy Chorus» from 2011:

Now what's the song? It's Wednesday Night Hop by Andy Kirk.

Andy Kirk took over Terrence Holder's Dark Clouds Of Joy in 1928, renamed it first in Andy Kirk and his Dark Clouds Of Joy and then Andy Kirk and his Twelve Clouds Of Joy.

When the regular pianist missed a recording session in 1929, John Williams, who was the saxophonist in the band, suggested to hire his wife Mary Lou Williams. Andy Kirk agreed and as we know today, that was a wise decision.

Mary Lou Williams was the real star in the band. She was not only a great soloist but also arranger and composer for the band. A great portion of the credit, that the band was so popular and successful, belongs without doubt to her!

From 1931 to 1942, Mary Lou Williams was a full time member of Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds Of Joy.

Wednesday Night Hop

Why is this song so appealing to me?

First, it's the staccato style. Then there are those monotone lines repeatedly appearing, by the horn section but also by some soloists. And lastly, the transition from these two characteristics to some softer solo phrases. You know, what I mean?

DJ Chrisbe's Song of the Week #98: Wednesday Night Hop by Andy Kirk

Title: Wednesday Night Hop
Artist: Andy Kirk & His Twelve Clouds Of Joy
Recorded: Feb 15, 1937 New York
Tempo: 214 bpm
Dance: Balboa, Lindy Hop

Do you think, Wednesday Night Hop is overplayed? Let me know in the comment section below!

Every Monday, I post a new «Song of the Week«.
You can find the songs also on my Spotify playlist or on 8tracks.

Related Posts: