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Frankie’s Centennial Savoy Ball Celebrating

Frankie's Centennial Savoy Ball Celebrating Frankie Manning's 100th Birthday, Friday May 23, 2014, The Edison Ballroom New York City Swingin' And Dancin' to the George Gee 17-Piece Swing Orchestra

Frankie Manning, legendary Lindy Hop dancer, born in 1914, was raised, lived and danced most of his life in New York City, passing away just before his 95th Birthday. From May 16-May 26, 2014, New York City plays host to his 100th Birthday Celebration. The Celebration has attracted dancers from all over the world, many of whom learned from him at Sweden's Herrang Dance Camp and dance events worldwide. Above, from his cover photograph, Life Magazine in 1941, W. Eugene Smith.
The Producers. Zort Music (Alan Sugarman) and Prohibition Productions (Patrick Soluri).

Alan Sugarman was the producer in 1999 of Frankie's 85th Birthday Celebration at Roseland Ballroom, attracting 1800 dancers on one dance floor, with Frankie, for his birthday.

The New York Times in a March 27, 2014 Article on the Closing of Roseland Ballroom (photo above) noted the 1999 event as one of the most memorable Roseland Events in the last 25 years:

"1999 Frankie Manning, known as the Pied Piper of the Lindy Hop, danced with 85 successive partners at the Roseland Ballroom to celebrate his 85th birthday. It was satisfying, said Alan Sugarman, a producer of that event, since, in 1935, Mr. Manning had been excluded from the hall because he was black. "In 1999, Roseland apologized and put Frankie's dance shoes on their wall of fame, " he said."



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