Luminato in Toronto

So yesterday Toronto had a free swing dancing evening at Dundas Square for the large and very exciting arts week called Luminato.

The attached links are pics from the Lindy Hop evening and other pics from the festival (which is still going on).

If you are ever in Toronto I highly recommend that you attend, it is super awesome!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/standarddeviant/3615919626/

NYC City Celebrates Frankie Manning's life this weekend

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/23/nyregion/23lindy.html?_r=2

Great article from the NY Times about the Frankie95 weekend. I wish I could be there, but this is great to read about!

Frankie Manning Documentary

Frankie Manning Documentary Interview

http://http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=81451922013&h=HCuda&u=yZEcC&ref=nf


check out an interview with the director of the Frankie Manning Documentary

Oh Dina!

2 weekends ago, I had the pleasure of attending the Toronto Clothing Show, where I stumbled upon a Canadian designer that designed the most delightful hair pieces. called "Oh Dina!".





I know Oh Dina! is working on a website but in the mean time go and visit the facebook page to see pictures and pictures of this vintage looking hair pieces. You too will fall in love just like I did! I swear!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=45073338644&ref=ts

Oh and the price I paid...$25.00. What a Steal!

Frankie is gone....but is still in the swing dancers hearts

On May 2nd the great Frankie Manning was laid to rest, in a "lavender coffin" send off. Music and dancing and friends all around.

He will be missed but I will be forever grateful for bringing Lindy Hop to this world and into my life. It has changed me in so many ways, positive ways and I want to carry on Frankies legacy thru my dancing.

Thank you Frankie for being in this world, you will be missed BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN!

Liz

Frankie Manning May 26th ,1917-April 27th, 2009

I am very very sad to report that a man I look up and honoured as the founder of Lindy Hop has died today :( He was 94, just shy of his 95th birthday.

I was lucky enough to have met Frankie twice! the last being in houston in March. He will be missed by everyone in the swing commmunity.

Thank you Frankie for being such an inspiration to thousands of us swing dancers across the globe!

NY Daily News Article:

Frankie Manning, the legendary city dancer who helped create the Lindy Hop in the 1930s, died early this morning of complications from pneumonia.
He was a month away from his 95th birthday, for which friends had been planning a party and tribute.
Manning, who was hospitalized 10 days ago, had been suffering physical problems since he took a fall last year.
Until then, he had remained an active dancer and had told friends he was looking forward to dancing at next month's party. There was no immediate announcement this morning on whether FrankieFest ‘95, scheduled for May 21-25 with dancing competitions, music and instruction, will continue as a memorial tribute.
Manning and his partner Fredi Washington are credited with developing the Lindy Hop's first "aerial" step in a 1935 competition at the Savoy Ballroom.
He then became the choreographer for the famous troupe Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
He toured the world in recent years, teaching and encouraging an international revival of swing dance. He also became one of the great characters of New York's dance world.
At his annual birthday bashes, he was known for insisting on dancing with as many women as his age.