From social dancing in Harlem’s ballrooms as a teenager, to his tenure with the elite Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, Frankie Manning has always been one of the most important forces in the development and dissemination of the Lindy hop. He is credited with many influential and lasting innovations to this truly American art form, including the creation of the Lindy air step and synchronized ensemble Lindy routine, both of which helped catapult the dance from ballroom to stage and screen.

Born in 1914, Frankie lived in Florida until the age of three, when his mother brought him to Harlem, the birthplace of the Lindy. Growing up in the midst of this Swing Era landscape, Frankie found he was part of a group of dedicated dancers that was to inspire the dancing and music of the 1930s and 1940s.

from frankiemanning.org