Somehow I didn’t get around to doing any kind of recap of Swedes in New York City here. I was just too busy!
The event has come and gone. It was a lot of work but very rewarding. Being able to connect students with some of my very favourite dancers in the whole world is so gratifying. The fact that the event also coincided with Norma Miller’s funeral was unexpected, emotional, but also cathartic.
This is my personal thank you message from the Swedes in New York City website:
It feels strange to write the usual thank you note about what we just did in New York City.
When we lost Norma Miller, everything changed.
All of the other stuff that happened the last few days was very nice but I would rather keep the emphasis on Norma and her legacy.
10 years ago we lost Frankie Manning and now we’ve buried Norma Miller just a short distance away. The parallels are uncanny. Now the “World Lindy Hop Day” title that we established 5 years ago on Frankie Manning’s birthday takes on new meaning.
Norma was an amazing woman and a part of our history. We will never forget her.
But it’s important to say some thank yous so here they are on a high level:
Mickey Davidson, John Biffar, Cynthia Brown, Lisa Jacobs, Daphna Harel, Krister Shalm, Barbara Bronx & The Harlem Swing Dance Society, Paolo Pasta Lanna & Spencer Weisbond & Swing ReMix, Julia Loving, Ronald Jones and swingwithusnyc.com, Chris Lee, Jennifer Hempel, Chachi,Jocelyn Hassenfeld & family, Cynthia Millman, Lana Turner, Buddy Steves, Elliott Donnelley, Jeff Liu-Leyco, Amy Winn, Judy Pritchett, Daniel Heedman, Lennart Westerlund, Ewa Burak, Åsa Heedman, Mimmi Gunnarsson Bringlöv, Fredrik Dahlberg, Denise Minns-Harris, Sandra SchulzCameron & Larry Schulz, Paul Grecki, Margaret Batiuchok, Zita Allen, Sing Yuen Lim, Chazz Young & Michellene Young, Olivia and Jill at Lincoln Center…
…and most importantly Norma, Al Minns, and Frankie for giving us all purpose.
Panel: The Pivotal Role of Al Minns on Modern Day Lindy Hop
In partnership with Lincoln Center
Friday Teacher Introduction
Saturday Performance
Sunday Tribute to Frankie Manning
Videos of the panels coming soon…
**Norma Miller honored throughout the weekend**
For information about Norma Miller’s viewing, burial, and celebration of life on Friday, May 24th, click here
- A little bit of the world famous Herräng Dance Camp comes to New York City
- 4 days of events including Norma Miller’s funeral, culminating with a celebration of Norma Miller & Frankie Manning’s friendship on Frankie’s 105th birthday at the historic Alhambra Ballroom featuring Charles Turner III and Uptown Swing.
- Lectures, interviews, film shows, and panel discussions on the historical context of the Jazz Era and African American roots of Lindy Hop from Harlem
- Performances and demonstrations
- Historical tourism
- Special Guest: Chazz Young