In late may I was fortunate enough to attend Frankie Manning’s 95th Birthday Festival in New York City. Since the organizers announced the event over a year ago I had it pinned on my google calendar as a “must attend” event. I’ve been wanting to meet Frankie for over 10 years. Each opportunity was missed because of work, money, or poor chance. I was going to make this trip no matter what. After a few hurdles at work and schedule adjustments I was able to make the voyage.
I started swing dancing in 1998 with some college friends and I had no clue what lindy hop was. After watching Frankie’s original set of VHS instructional videos that all changed. After introducing myself to this wonderful dance and immersing myself into its surprising history, it was clear that Frankie Manning was going to be a prominent new figure in my life. I wanted to meet him, get to know him and enjoy his wonderful spirit that so many of my dance friends spoke about. So many of my dance friends know him and speak about him candidly. I wanted to be able to do the same. Unfortunately he passed away before I could shake his hand. I will always enjoy the legacy he left behind. I have so much to be thankful for and with that I have no regrets. I wanted to honor him by truly participating in this event.
As for the event weekend, all I have to say is Wow!!!
I headed up late Friday evening with Lindsay. We had a late departure because we both had to finish up the week as it was the last week of school here in Atlanta. After an easy flight, decent cab fare, and a brief hotel check-in we arrived at the Manhattan Center shortly before 1am on Friday night. We missed all of Thursday and the day events on Friday. I was a bit annoyed that most of the fun day events and the memorial were on Friday but I understand they had to leave room for the classes on Saturday and Sunday. We checked in at registration (Easy but not very personable) and preceded into the venue.
Upon entering the venue the sheer scale of the event just wraps itself around you. The event was completely housed in the Manhattan Center which is a converted opera house. It’s basically one of the largest multi-purpose, multi-level ballrooms you’ve ever seen. There was full production lighting, a full stage, balconies, large banners of the event logo hanging from the rafters and a large projector screen hanging over the center of the stage where they occasionally played videos and tributes throughout the weekend. I must say….it was massive. Just to give you an idea. Madonna was using the place on that next Tuesday.
After checking my bag for $4 and grabbing my dance shoes we proceeded to join the mass of dancers inside the hall. I think the event cleared well over two thousand registrations for the weekend and yes even at 1am, you could tell. The dance floor was packed but outstandingly enough. You could still find room to dance.
I can go on and on about the scope of this event. There is nothing like being in NYC were it all began. It was almost like putting every swing dancer you’ve ever met in one room with a perfect lineup of bands all weekend long. That’s it! Plain and simple. I ran into so many people that I knew that it quickly became overwhelming. You just had to not say anything and almost be rude if you wanted to get a dance in. I ended up just waving to folks. Eventually as the weekend moved along everyone settled in and you didn’t feel the need to say hi or give everyone you know that attention.
Friday night was basically a “get your feet wet” kind of night for us. I was overwhelmed but hooked up with some really awesome follows and managed to get some great dances in. The Cangelosi Cards were on once we arrived. I’m a huge fan and they play a decent set. I thought their tempo management was a bit too buoyant and on the extremes. I’ve heard them better. I did enjoy the vocal trio’s and collaborations though. I can probably do a whole different post on the music of Frankie95.
The two things other than the size of the event that struck me once I arrived and all weekend were finally getting to dance in front of Norma Miller, Sugar Sullivan, Dawn Hampton and the other legendary dancers that were there. I’ve seen them in the historic footage, the clips, the interviews and I even have their books. This was my first time seeing them in person. They guests and “legends” basically nested in the balconies which conveniently overlooked the dance floor. I purposely pulled a few follows over in front of them throughout the weekend just so I can put a few moves in with hopes that they’d notice me. (Giggle) The other was getting to dance with people from all over the world. I think my follow count on Friday night alone was Canada, Australia, London, Japan, Sweden and all over the US. It was insane and truly a world-wide event.
We closed down the late night dance and met up with Michelle before heading back to the hotel. Lindsay and Michelle were both heavily involved in volunteering so they were very occupied for the bulk of the weekend. Michelle was in charge of catering and Lindsay was managing backstage hospitality. They were busy bees but still managed to enjoy the event. I selfishly backed out of volunteering. I really wanted to enjoy the event as a patron and didn’t want the burden of working the event. I ended up helping a little and they gave me a few added perks over the weekend such as storing my bag, access to the balcony and enough humor to last a lifetime.
We ended up back at the hotel which was just under a mile down 8th Ave. We hooked up with Seth and Melinda from Tampa who shared a room with us. With the sun coming up we crashed.
Saturday and Sunday/Monday to follow.
