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82-565: Herräng Dance Camp (commonly abbreviated HDC , officially Herräng Dance Camp Aktiebolag ) is the largest annual dance camp that focuses on lindy hop , boogie woogie , tap dance , jazz dance , and balboa . It is held annually in July in Herräng , Sweden, and focuses both on instruction and dancing. Swing era dancers that have presented at the camp include Al Minns , Frankie Manning , Norma Miller , Chazz Young , and Dawn Hampton . While

164-542: A New York phone book. Calling the first Frankie Manning, she asked, "Are you Frankie Manning the dancer?" Initially, he replied, "No, I'm Frankie Manning the postal worker." However, after a pause, he added, "But I used to be a dancer." Stevens had indeed found the Manning she was looking for. Dance marathon According to Professor Carol Martin of New York University, the revival of the Olympic Games created

246-616: A chapter to the Lindy Hop. By 1960, the Lindy Hop had become known as "swing," as stated in the book "Social Dance" copyrighted in 1969. In film, " Happy Days " (1974) showcased fifties rock and roll music, sock hops, the Twist, and even a "Harvest Moon" dance contest. In the made-for-television movie " Queen of the Stardust Ballroom " (1975), onscreen dancers such as Dean Collins and Skippy Blair were featured. The 1970s in

328-518: A day, although contestants were required to continue the shuffling dance motion while they ate. Although the meals were simple foods like eggs, oatmeal or toast, in a time of great hunger food was a powerful inducement to contestants. Many marathon contestants reported that, despite the constant motion, 12 meals a day meant that they actually gained weight. Once admission was paid, spectators could stay as long as they liked. Marathons took on an almost theatrical role for spectators, as spectators gained

410-407: A follow out backwards or forwards is just as likely. Savoy style is also said to be characterized by a pronounced downwards "bounce", which is again something of a misnomer, as different dancers employed varying degrees and types of "bounce", and observers of Frankie Manning have noted changes in his own dancing style in this respect over the years. Despite these comments, it is important to note that

492-400: A more intense connection (characterized at its extreme by counter balance), also featured extensive variations and individual improvisation within the swingout in other instances. African American and African dances which are present in the Lindy Hop of these dancers in this period. These may include: Sometimes referred to as Dean Collins style, or alternatively, 'Smooth Style' Lindy Hop,

574-423: A radio or record player often sufficed during the day. Contestants were expected to dance full-out during the heavily attended evening hours. Every few hours a klaxon would sound and couples were allowed 15 minutes of rest in beds that were sometimes set up on the dance floor. These rest areas were segregated by sex. Contestants trained themselves to drop instantly into deep sleep as soon as their bodies touched

656-468: A sadistic sense of pleasure from watching the participants physically suffer. Dancers could often be seen dozing off while their partners held them up to keep their knees from hitting the ground (which would result in disqualification). To encourage lagging couples to continue moving, the floor judge sometimes used a ruler to flick the legs of contestants who were not shuffling with sufficient alacrity. Tasks such as eating, bathing, shaving, and reading

738-419: A single community of dancers in one historical moment, is that vernacular African American dance , and Lindy Hop in particular, prioritized individual style and creative improvisation and musical interpretation within a particular dance style. In describing Savoy style Lindy Hop, observers note that the follower is led out of the basic swingout sideways as a default. This is not the case, however, as leading

820-565: A small stipend in exchange for wearing the company’s name as they competed. Marathoners also sold autographed picture postcards of themselves to the fans. The price was usually 10 cents. “Dancingly yours,” many read. The audience stayed for the contest as long as they desired after paying the 25 cents admission fee. During the Great Depression, many Americans dealt with the issue of losing jobs and staying home by watching dance marathons that often lasted for weeks or months. Relatively,

902-512: A stool, thereby bringing their center point of balance closer to the ground. This piked position is the classic look of Hollywood with the back straight and a slight forward tilt. This style originated from Jewel McGown , who was Dean Collins' dance partner and had prior experience as a Balboa dance r before dancing with him. Sylvia Sykes and Jonathan Bixby took private lessons from Dean Collins from 1981 to 1984, and passed on his knowledge. Erik Robison and Sylvia Skylar learned by studying under

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984-843: A truant officer spotted her and sent her back to school. Her last big event was in Springfield, Illinois, where she and her partner danced for 97 days and came in second. Today, over 250 colleges and high schools nationwide participate in dance marathons of some sort to raise money for children's hospitals. Some raise money under the Children's Miracle Network and with their help, while others are entirely student-run and operate to benefit partnered charities. Each year, students organize and host different types of dance marathon events in which participants stand on their feet for 12–46 hours straight. Some US student-run dance marathons include: The Penn State Dance Marathon, commonly referred to as THON,

1066-640: A widespread interest in feats of strength, endurance contests, and world records that led to dance marathons. On February 18, 1923, Olie Finnerty and Edgar Van Ollefin set a record by dancing seven hours without stopping in Sunderland, England . Twelve days later, dance instructor Alma Cummings set a new record at the Audubon Ballroom in New York. She danced continuously for 27 hours with six different partners. Within three weeks, her record

1148-441: Is a 36-hour Dance Marathon that takes place every November at Indiana University with the purpose of raising both funding and awareness for pediatric care. In 1991, student Jill Stewart started IU Dance Marathon in honor of her friend, Ryan White, who died from AIDS the year before. Since then, IUDM has raised over $ 32 million for Riley Hospital for Children, including $ 4,203,326.23 during the 2017 marathon year. IUDM currently supports

1230-533: Is a 46-hour dance marathon which takes place every February at Pennsylvania State University to raise money to combat children's cancer . THON was started in 1973 by the university's Interfraternity and Panhellenic Councils and in its first year raised more than $ 2,000. Today, it is the largest student-run philanthropy in the world which has raised over $ 157 million since 1977. In 2011, THON raised $ 9,563,016.09, in 2013, $ 12,374,034.46 and in 2014, $ 13,343,517.33. In 2020 THON raised $ 11,696,942.38. The money raised

1312-715: Is a dance style named after Dean Collins, a Jewish man who danced at the Savoy Ballroom before 1936 and became a high-profile dancer of this style on the west coast of the United States, appearing in Hollywood films such as Hellzapoppin' . Dean Collins style of Lindy Hop is a style of dancing was danced at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem during the 1930s and 1940s. Unfortunately, we do not have footage of

1394-411: Is danced as a social dance , as a competitive dance , as a performance dance , and in classes, workshops, and camps. Partners may dance alone or together, with improvisation a central part of social dancing and many performance and competition pieces. Lindy Hop is sometimes referred to as a street dance , referring to its improvisational and social nature. In 1932, twelve-year-old Norma Miller did

1476-584: Is donated to the Four Diamonds Fund , a charity devoted to defeating pediatric cancer through research and treats patients at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center Children's Hospital . Founded in 1975, Northwestern University Dance Marathon, commonly referred to as NUDM, is one of the nation's largest student-run philanthropies. The event unites more than 1,500 students, faculty, and staff to participate in

1558-492: Is frequently described as a jazz dance and is a member of the swing dance family. In its development, the Lindy Hop combined elements of both partnered and solo dancing by using the movements and improvisation of African-American dances along with the formal eight-count structure of European partner dances  – most clearly illustrated in the Lindy's defining move, the swingout . In this step's open position , each dancer

1640-487: Is geared towards performance and is heavily based on short choreographies. A contemporary variation of Lindy Hop is characterized by slower music, a greater emphasis on improvisation, and a distinctive "groove" style . This specific usage of Lindy Hop emerged in the late 90s in San Francisco and Los Angeles as a way to differentiate it from the popular "Hollywood" or "LA Style" of Lindy Hop. The Hollywood or LA Style

1722-499: Is generally connected hand-to-hand; in its closed position , leads and follows are connected as though in an embrace on one side and holding hands on the other. There was renewed interest in the dance in the 1980s from American, Swedish, and British dancers and the Lindy Hop is now represented by dancers and loosely affiliated grass-roots organizations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Lindy Hop today

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1804-811: Is the only one of the Lindy Hop dances that survived in the long run. The Harlem Lindy Hop developed probably from four possible sources, or some combination thereof: the breakaway, the Charleston , the Texas Tommy , and the hop. A recorded source of the non-Harlem-connected Lindy Hop dances is the famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, nicknamed "Lucky Lindy", who "hopped the Atlantic" in 1927. After Lindbergh's solo non-stop flight from New York to Paris in 1927 he became incredibly popular and many people named songs, recipes and businesses among several other things, after him. Te Roy Williams and His Orchestra recorded

1886-571: The Swedish Swing Society , a swing dance organization based in Stockholm , Sweden . It was attended by around 25 participants and was entirely taught by John Clancy from New York. Attendance increased to nearly 100 students in its second year. For the following five years, the camp grew in popularity in and around Sweden, and was only attended by Swedish dancers. It eventually gained an international following. Frankie Manning attended

1968-695: The World Rock 'N' Roll Federation in Germany about sponsoring the winners of her Harvest Moon Ball (competitions that ran from 1927-1984) at their international swing dance competition, she started to become more well known in Europe and caught the attention of the British TV company London Weekend Television . "In 1981 they paid for one of Mama Lou's events to be re-staged at Small's Paradise Club on 7th Avenue in Harlem." The program aired in late 1982 on

2050-494: The "bounce" described is characteristic of many African American vernacular dance forms. One of the clearest distinctions between Hollywood and Smooth style Lindy Hop and Savoy style Lindy Hop is the open " connection " and relative freedom of the follower to improvise within the structure of the swingout in particular. Again, this technical difference varies between individual dancers, and between teachers today. Historians may also note that Hollywood style, while often characterized by

2132-424: The 1920s and 1930s, Carol Martin writes "in their heyday, dance marathons were among America’s most widely attended and controversial forms of live entertainment. The business employed an estimated 20,000 people as promoters, masters of ceremonies, floor judges, trainers, nurses and contestants." According to Martin, nearly every American city of 50,000 people or more hosted at least one endurance dance marathon at

2214-579: The 1930s, gaining popularity through multiple sources. Dance troupes, including the Whitey's Lindy Hoppers (also known as the Harlem Congaroos ), Hot Chocolates and Big Apple Dancers exhibited the Lindy Hop. Hollywood films, such as Hellzapoppin' and A Day at the Races began featuring the Lindy Hop in dance sequences. Dance studios such as those of Arthur Murray began teaching Lindy Hop. By

2296-462: The 23rd year where ECF has been the secondary beneficiary. With 1,000 dancers and over 500 committee members who work throughout the year to help organize the event and raise awareness, NUDM is a Northwestern tradition. In 2014, NUDM raised its highest total to date, $ 1,385,273 to benefit Team Joseph. In 45 years, NUDM raised more than $ 20 million for over 30 charities. The Indiana University Dance Marathon, commonly known as IU Dance Marathon or IUDM,

2378-522: The 30-hour dance-a-thon at the end of the winter quarter in early March. Unlike other Dance Marathons, NUDM changes which charity it primarily supports from year to year. The primary beneficiary is chosen each May, and will receive 90% of all funds raised throughout the year. The other 10% is donated to the Evanston Community Foundation (ECF), which then uses this gift to allocate grants to local Evanston charities. NUDM 2020 will be

2460-623: The Hip to Hip, Side Flip, and Over the Back (the names describe the motion of the follow in the air) began to appear, the old guard of dancers such as Leon James, Leroy Jones, and Shorty Snowden disapproved of the new moves. Younger dancers fresh out of high school ( Al Minns , Joe Daniels, Russell Williams, and Pepsi Bethel) worked out the Back Flip, "Over the head", and "the Snatch". Frankie Manning

2542-991: The Jiving Lindy Hoppers. In March 1985, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers (Warren Heyes, Terry Monaghan, Ryan Francois, Claudia Gintersdorfer, and Lesley Owen) travelled to New York City on their first research visit. Their goal was primarily to meet Al Minns but when they arrived, they learned that he was in hospital and not expected to live much longer. (Al Minns died on 24 April 1985.) Through Mama Lou Parks, they met Alfred "Pepsi" Bethel and trained with him for two weeks in New York City followed by another week in London. While in NY, they also met two former members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers , Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, dance historians Mura Dehn , Sally Sommer, and Ernie Smith, as well as dance enthusiasts that had just formed

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2624-469: The Lindy Hop outside the Savoy Ballroom with her friends for tips. In 1935, 15,000 people danced on Bradhurst Avenue for the second of a dance series held by the Parks Department. Between 147th and 148th street, Harlem "threw itself into the Lindy Hop with abandon" as Sugar Hill residents watched from the bluffs along Edgecombe Avenue. The first dances named as Lindy Hop were born around

2706-506: The Lindy Hop. As white people began going to Harlem to watch black dancers, according to Langston Hughes : The lindy-hoppers at the Savoy even began to practice acrobatic routines, and to do absurd things for the entertainment of the whites, that probably never would have entered their heads to attempt for their own effortless amusement. Some of the lindy-hoppers had cards printed with their names on them and became dance professors teaching

2788-582: The New York Swing Dance Society in 1985. During the 1980s, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers were instrumental in spreading Lindy Hop throughout the UK by teaching and performing at shows, festivals and on TV. In January 1984, the Jiving Lindy Hoppers started teaching Lindy Hop in London. In 1981, Al Minns was rediscovered by Sandra Cameron and Larry Schulz during a Louise "Mama Lou" Parks event. They invited him to teach at Sandra's dance studio,

2870-571: The Sandra Cameron Dance Center (SCDC). Another instrumental figure was Paul Grecki, who also worked with Al and later with Frankie Manning at the studio. In 1982, Al Minns was convinced to start teaching Lindy Hop at SCDC in New York City. Al Minns' early students formed the New York Swing Dance Society, established in 1985. Frankie Manning continued teaching at the SCDC in 1985, carrying on where Al Minns had left off. As

2952-477: The Showmen’s Rest section of Minneapolis’s Lakewood Cemetery reads: "DeVillier, World Champion Marathon Dancer 3,780 continuous hours." Vaudeville and Broadway star June Havoc began competing in dance marathons professionally at the age of 14. Havoc's longest dance marathon was reportedly 3,000 hours, or more than four months of staying on her feet and sleeping only in 15-minute intervals. Havoc also wrote

3034-736: The UI Dance Marathon Pediatric Oncology Targeted Therapy Program and $ 2 million to establish the first student-funded chair position at the University of Iowa, the UI Dance Marathon Chair in Pediatric Oncology, Clinical and Translational Research. With more than one beneficiary, FSU's dance marathon benefits children's causes and has raised more than $ 6 million since 1996. The 2018 campaign raised

3116-577: The UK witnessed the emergence of diverse music trends, including a revival of original rock 'n' roll pioneers. Additionally, the European Rock'n'Roll Association (ERRA) was founded in 1974 by Italy, France, Germany, and Switzerland to promote rock 'n' roll dancing. Lindy Hop was revived in the 1980s by dancers in New York City, California, Stockholm, and the United Kingdom. West Coast Swing, ballroom swing, and Rock'n'Roll enthusiasts were on

3198-467: The Wells Center for Pediatric Research and Riley Hospital for Children. The University of Iowa Dance Marathon was founded in 1994 and provides financial and emotional support to pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients treated at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital . Over the past 24 years, the university's largest student organization has raised $ 24,548,226.30 for

3280-655: The Woodland Daily Democrat reported Catherine B. Sullivan describing the "Lindy Hop" as having been placed third in the Dancing Masters of America, New Dances competition, behind the Kikajou and the Dixie Step. (The "Lindy Hop" was also described in reports as the "Lindbergh Glide"). The journalist reports that Miss Johnson showed a very fast little step, with hops and a kick, whilst holding

3362-567: The air step. However, early versions of air steps in the Lindy Hop were performed already from the very beginning of the 1930s. An Air Step is a dance move in which at least one of the partners' two feet leave the ground in a dramatic, acrobatic style. Most importantly, it is done in time with the music. Air steps are now widely associated with the characterization of Lindy Hop, despite being generally reserved for competition or performance dancing, and not generally being executed on any social dance floor. Lindy Hop entered mainstream American culture in

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3444-534: The arms out, like the Spirit of St. Louis . The foot work is described as "dum-de-dum, dum-de-dum, dum-de-dum". According to Ethel Williams, the Lindy Hop was similar to the dance known as the Texas Tommy in New York in 1913. The basic steps in the Texas Tommy were followed by a breakaway identical to that found in the Lindy. Savoy dancer "Shorty" George Snowden told Marshall Stearns in 1959 that "We used to call

3526-455: The arts program The South Bank Show and featured Parks, her Traditional Jazz Dance Company, and the Lindy Hop. The TV show sparked so much interest in the dance that Mama Lou Parks and her Traditional Jazz Dance Company toured the UK in 1983 and 1984. Terry Monaghan and Warren Heyes met each other at her workshops in London in 1983. Afterwards, they decided to form the British dance company

3608-572: The basic step the Hop long before Lindbergh did his hop across the Atlantic. It had been around a long time and some people began to call it the Lindbergh Hop after 1927, although it didn't last. Then, during the marathon at Manhattan Casino, I got tired of the same old steps and cut loose with a breakaway..." According to Snowden, Fox Movietone News covered the marathon and took a close-up of Shorty's feet. As told to Marshall and Jean Stearns, he

3690-516: The camp for the first time in 1989. Lindy hop The Lindy Hop is an American dance which was born in the African-American communities of Harlem , New York City, in 1928 and has evolved since then. It was very popular during the swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Lindy is a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based on jazz , tap , breakaway , and Charleston . It

3772-399: The camp is occurring, infrastructure is added to the village to accommodate the dancers. This includes several cafes; a full cafeteria serving buffet-style meals; a shop for dance supplies, accessories and daily essentials; bicycle rental; housing of various standards; and nightly entertainment. The first Herräng Dance Camp was held for one week, starting on 1 August 1982, and was organized by

3854-549: The children's hospital. In 2018, UIDM raised a total of $ 3,011,015.24, making it the second Miracle Network Dance Marathon in the country to raise over three million dollars. After a ten-year, $ 5 million leadership gift to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital's building campaign, the 11th floor was named the UI Dance Marathon Pediatric Cancer Center. Since then, the student-run group has donated over $ 2.2 million to create

3936-474: The cots. Women who did not get up were given smelling salts and sometimes slapped. Male contestants who were slow to wake were often dunked in a tub of ice water. At times, couples were tucked on dog chains together like prisoners. "Cot Nights," in which the beds from the rest areas were pulled out into public view so the audience could watch the contestants even during their brief private moments, were popular. Most marathon promoters fed contestants 12 times

4018-519: The creation of this dance, it was during a time in which black and white counterparts had to be segregated in social places. Even with these limitations the African American Community is still able to celebrate their heritage and black musical traditions. With a dance that embodies elements of improvisations and musicality.While surviving as a reminder of the historical context from which Black art forms emerged. In 1943, Lindy Hop

4100-590: The dance at various venues, including Bobby McGee's, throughout the decades. Skippy Blair contributed to a new dance scene by opening a dance studio in 1958 to train teachers in the art of West Coast Swing . Several published works were also contributed. Arthur Murray 's 1954 edition of "How to Become a Good Dancer" included instructions for swing dances such as the Lindy Hop. East Coast Swing and Lindy Hop were equated in Yerrington and Outland's 1961 publication. The 1962 Ballroom Dancebook for Teachers dedicated

4182-485: The dance floor after dancing with his partner for 87 consecutive hours. Soon after, the City of Boston banned dance marathons. In 1928, Gladys Lenz danced for 19 straight hours at a Seattle marathon despite being punched in the face by a partner who appeared to be suffering from fatigue-induced psychosis. The couple received $ 50 for coming fifth while the winning couple won $ 1,000. Lenz attempted suicide soon after. Within

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4264-695: The dance form. Similarly, from 1949 to 1955, Frankie Manning's Congaroo Dancers enchanted audiences with their Lindy Hop skills. After the Savoy Ballroom closed in 1958, Louise "Mama Lou" Parks Dancers took the stage and trained to compete in the Harvest Moon Ball. The Black community continued to dance with new and inventive styles to emerge. Additionally, in a 1959 or 1960 episode of Playboy's Penthouse , Al Minns and Leon James showcased jazz dances while Marshall Stearns discussed them with Hugh Hefner . Dean Collins and some of his friends were also dedicated dancers, never ceasing their passion for

4346-460: The dance marathon answered enthusiastically to the accident. As Marshall Stearns put it, Snowden rediscovered the Breakaway pattern when the accident happened. But the accident where Snowden and Purnell devised the basic principle of the Lindy Hop turned out to be much bigger than it initially suggested. Their invention started a process which led the Lindy Hop to contests, theaters and ballrooms by

4428-500: The dancer he worked with in the earliest years of the Lindy Hop revival. Al Minns and Leon James are often considered authoritative figures in the academic discussion of Lindy Hop, in part for their work with Marshall Stearns and Jean Stearns (in their book Jazz Dance and documentary films). Lindy Hop historians also draw clear distinctions between the dancing styles of key women dancers such as Norma Miller and Ann Johnson. The most useful point to be made about this variation within

4510-461: The demand for his dance instruction grew, Frankie Manning started to travel and teach worldwide, sharing his joy of Lindy Hop. In 1983-1984, Californian dancers Erin Stevens and Steven Mitchell had taken lessons from Al Minns at SCDC and were actively searching for original Savoy dancers after learning about Frankie Manning through Bob Crease. Stevens discovered three listings for the name Manning in

4592-683: The early 1940s the dance was known as "New Yorker" on the West Coast. Jazz-loving youths were enamored with the bands of the time, influenced by radio stations and the film industry showcasing clips. In Nazi Germany, the Swingjugend , young rebels, defied the regime's cultural restrictions by embracing banned swing music. Similarly, in California and other parts of the country, Mexican-Americans , Japanese-heritage individuals, Black, and white youth all adored jazz music and wanted to learn

4674-627: The end of 1928, and to Broadway plays by 1930. Thus, Snowden and Purnell are the creators of the Harlem Lindy Hop. The first generation of Lindy Hop is popularly associated with dancers such as "Shorty" George Snowden , his partner Big Bea, and Leroy Stretch Jones and Little Bea. "Shorty" George and Big Bea regularly won contests at the Savoy Ballroom . Their dancing accentuated the difference in size with Big Bea towering over Shorty. These dancers specialized in so-called floor steps, but they also experimented with early versions of air steps in

4756-466: The feeling among some that dance marathons were licentious. Some objected for humanitarian reasons. They believed it was wrong to charge money for the dubious privilege of watching people suffer. Extreme fatigue could compromise contestants' mental state and cause them to act out in disturbing ways. Police also believed that marathons attracted an undesirable element to their towns. On April 14, 1923, Homer Morehouse, aged 27, collapsed and died on

4838-489: The hunt for old swing dancers, as old videos emerged, showcasing partner dances that had been lost to time. Each group independently searched for original Lindy Hop dancers and, for those who lived outside of New York City, traveled to New York City to work with them. Al Minns , Pepsi Bethel , Frankie Manning and Norma Miller came out of retirement and toured the world teaching Lindy Hop, later to be joined by dancers such as George and Sugar Sullivan. Louise "Mama Lou" Parks

4920-408: The local community helped advertise. Most promoters were known to have bad business practices, such as not paying for the event bills and ditching the contestants. On the other hand, a few promoters like Hal Ross, made efforts for the events, and paid off the bills. Participants had to remain upright and moving for 45 minutes out of every hour, around the clock. A live band played at night, while

5002-466: The new dance steps. This African American dance would be integral in shaping the aesthetics of contemporary African American culture and tradition. The swing dance was influenced by a variety of other different dances during the time like the Charleston, jazz and even tap step. It would soon be influential in overall pop-culture and dance at the time. Even being appropriated by other cultures. During

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5084-437: The original dancers from the 1930s and 1940s, such as Jewel McGowan and Jean Veloz , and watching old Hollywood movies of Dean Collins and his friends in the movies. They were the first to refer to it as 'Hollywood Style'. A popular variation of Hollywood-Style Lindy Hop called LA-style Lindy Hop has a few technical changes in the footwork and fewer steps. The steps are shortened or "cheated" to create this look. The style

5166-437: The other white dancers who were part of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers , making it difficult to observe their dance style. However, we do have footage of Sonny Allen and George Lloyd showcasing a slot dance style, meaning the follower travels in a straight line instead of the more elliptical or circular Savoy-style Lindy Hop . The swingout (the basic step of Lindy) is danced in a position often described as someone about to sit on

5248-456: The paper could be done while dancing. In her first autobiography, June Havoc described how the contestants shaved onstage, wrote letters, washed themselves, ate while keeping their feet moving, even had sex under blankets on the dance floor. As the marathon wore on and contestants' stamina withered, they could be forced into footraces, or risk elimination. Competitors used sponsorship to generate extra cash. Local businesses paid these couples

5330-420: The peak of the craze. Women constituted up to 75 percent of dance marathon audiences. Dance marathons have occurred in most large cities, such as M.D Crandall’s at Madison Square Garden. Smaller cities didn't have as many social issues compared to the contests in larger cities. Though promoters made less money in smaller towns, they looked for a place where a large crowd could fit in for the dance marathon, and

5412-609: The song "Lindbergh Hop", written by Ted Nixon and Elmer Snowden , on May 25, 1927. The Memphis Jug Band on September 13, 1928 recorded "Lindberg Hop- Overseas stomp," written by Jab Jones and Will Shade . The first of the Lindy Hop-named dances was probably the "Lindbergh Hop" which was referred to as Lindy "Hop" in the headline of an article in Pittsburgh Gazette Times on May 25, 1927, just four days after Lindbergh landed at Le Bourget . The dance

5494-427: The stage play Marathon '33 based on her experiences. Novelist and screenwriter Horace McCoy worked as a bouncer at several dance marathons. He used this experience to write They Shoot Horses Don't They? which was eventually adapted into a film of the same name . Singer Anita O'Day dropped out of school at age 14 to be a professional marathon dancer. Her marathon dance career ended two years later when

5576-469: The tax was later reduced to 20 percent, "No Dancing Allowed" signs went up all over the country. Savoy-style Lindy Hop is characterized by a high energy, circular, rotating style. This particular style of Lindy Hop was most frequently associated with living dancers from the 1930s, such as Frankie Manning . The term "Savoy-style Lindy Hop" applies a generic relationship between all African American Lindy Hoppers (and aficionados of their styles) which ignores

5658-447: The tickets to the event were affordable, and entertaining for them due to it being staged and dramatized which they weren't aware of. The profits for promoters came from the spectators, returning night after night, cash in hand, to follow the action. Marathons were usually somewhat rigged, or at least stacked, toward certain couples. At the time of the dance marathon boom, many churches still considered dancing sinful. Social dancing

5740-560: The time the aviator Charles Lindbergh made his groundbreaking flight across the Atlantic Ocean in May 1927. The most famous Lindy Hop dance, which is not connected to the other Lindy Hop dances, was born in the Harlem dance marathon in 1928 where George Snowden and Mattie Purnell reinvented the breakaway pattern by accident. That started a process in which their invention became bigger than it initially suggested. The Harlem dance

5822-570: The tourists. Then Harlem nights became show nights for the Nordics. Hughes's mocking statement reflects how the Harlem Renaissance movement acknowledged the Lindy Hop which the movement considered part of "low culture", and thus not an important cultural achievement. According to Snowden, "When he finally offered to pay us, we went up and had a ball. All we wanted to do was dance anyway." When by 1936 "Air steps" or "aerials" such as

5904-417: The variety and diversity of Lindy Hop in the 1930s and 40s. Lindy Hop historians see clear differences between the Lindy Hop of the early years of its development (the late 1920s) and dancers such as "Shorty" George Snowden , dancers of the 1930s (such as Manning), and then between individual dancers during these periods. Lennart Westerlund described the differences in styles between Manning and Al Minns ,

5986-462: The year, Seattle banned dance marathons. Over time, the novelty of dance marathons wore off and by the late 1930s, many local authorities banned dance marathons. Professional performers began to join the dance marathons and competed against authentic amateurs. Callum DeVillier and Vonny Kuchinski of Minneapolis took first prize in a marathon at Somerville, Massachusetts after dancing for five months in 1933. The couple won $ 1000. A headstone in

6068-437: Was a hostess at the Savoy Ballroom who promised Charles Buchanan that she would continue holding the Lindy Hop portion of the Harvest Moon Ball dance competition after the Savoy Ballroom closed in 1958. She helped preserve the dance by teaching the performance and competition aspects to a new generation of dancers, and in doing so, helped a generation from getting in trouble with the law. After Parks contacted Wolfgang Steuer of

6150-399: Was asked "What are you doing with your feet," and replied, "The Lindy". The date was June 17, 1928. Snowden's account to Stearns probably refers to the fact that he used already existing elements of the dance when he and his partner Mattie Purnell had an accident in the dance marathon where they became separated for a while until Snowden got back to Purnell. According to Snowden, the crowd in

6232-480: Was broken at least nine times across the United States. As the prosperous 1920s faded into the struggling 1930s, dance marathons boomed and offered cash prizes equivalent to a year's salary. They provided contestants and spectators food, shelter and the opportunity to earn cash prizes at a time when many people needed a free meal. By the late 1930s, dance marathons had faded from the cultural landscape. In her book Dance Marathons: Performing American Culture of

6314-483: Was featured on the cover of Life magazine, becoming America's National Folk Dance and a recruitment tool for the military. Hollywood capitalized on its popularity in films, promoting enlistment for the military and fostering unity and support for the troops. In 1944, due to continued involvement in World War II , the United States levied a 30 percent federal excise tax against "dancing" nightclubs . Although

6396-504: Was no specific "Savoy style" of Lindy Hopping. After World War II, jazz clubs faced taxes and regulations, leading to smaller bands and a shift towards listening rather than dancing. The rise of rock and roll and bebop in the 1950s diminished jazz's popularity for dancing, causing Lindy Hop to fade out of the public eye and be replaced by Rock and Roll , East Coast Swing , West Coast Swing , and other styles. From 1949 to 1968, Norma Miller's Jazz Men performed, showcasing their passion for

6478-445: Was part of a new generation of Lindy Hoppers, and is the most celebrated Lindy Hopper in history. Al Minns and Pepsi Bethel , Leon James , and Norma Miller are also featured prominently in contemporary histories of Lindy Hop. Some sources credit Manning, working with his partner Freida Washington, for inventing the ground-breaking "Air Step" or " aerial " in 1935. One source credits Al Minns and Pepsi Bethel as among those who refined

6560-461: Was reported to be Broadway's tribute to Lindbergh, and it included six basic steps. Later, a "Lindy Hop" dance was described by columnist Gilbert Swan. He wrote, "Obviously the first dance named for the Lindbergh flight was the 'Lindy Hop'...Like all trick dances, they will be done in a few theatres and dance halls, where experts appear, and that will be that". Later that year, on September 14,

6642-427: Was still scandalous enough for some promoters to call dance marathons by the more palatable name of "walkathons". Movie theater owners also objected to dance marathons, as dance marathons were a strong business competitor during the Great Depression. As the dance marathon wore on and contestants became exhausted, contestants engaged in full-body contact rather than more distant social dance positions. This increased

6724-425: Was typically performed to faster music and allowed for limited improvisation, primarily adhering to predefined patterns. The modern Lindy Hop style broke away from these constraints, providing more freedom for dancers to interpret the music and incorporate their own improvised movements, resulting in a distinct groove-oriented approach. As Frankie Manning put it, "Everyone at the Savoy had their [own] style." And there

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