It's great that so many DJs are coming, because I know you guys won't want to miss our latest announcement! I already thought the Basie Centennial Ball is going to be the most special dance that our generation of dancers will be able to attend, simply for the fact that we have so many musicians who used to actually play in Basie's band in the '50s and '60s (among many other reasons). But now this takes the cake. The greatest collection of swing dancers - of all generations - to ever gather for a picture. The picture of all generations will hopefully go down in history, and I hope you call can be in it. Here's the press release:
Inspired by Art Kane's Classic 1958 Photograph of over fifty legendary Jazz Musicians posing on the steps of a brownstone in Harlem ,"A Great Day in Harlem". A Great Day In Lindy is an attempt to bring together the most important faces of Lindy Hop's past present and future for one giant photo shoot on Saturday, October 9, 2004.
This event is open to anyone who dances or who has been touched by this unique American art form. A series of group photos will be taken according to the year or era that people started dancing and at the end one large group photo will be taken of every one who is present at the event.
We have been in the process of contacting living members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, The Congeroos, The Mama Lou Parks Dancers, The Rockets, The Jiveadeers, Harvest Moon Ball Competitors and Champions, Savoy Dancers, Bouncers, Early West Coast Lindy Hoppers and many others who have made a significant contribution to this dance (teachers, performers, competitors and social dancers...etc) to come join us for this memorable photo.
The following people are already planning on joining us:
Frankie Manning
Norma Miller
Dawn Hampton
Eleanor Watson (Whitey's Lindy Hopper, In Radio City Revels)
Ruthie Rhinegold (Whitey's Lindy Hopper)
James Brown (Whitey's Lindy Hopper)
Midge Vercelli (Harvest Moon Ball Champion-One of only Four Non-Savoy dancers to win from 1935 to 1958)
Sugar Sullivan (Harvest Moon Ball Champion, Jivadeer, Rocket)
George Sullivan (Harvest Moon Ball Champion, Trained 10 Harvest Moon Ball Champions)
Sonny Allen (Harvest Moon Ball Champion, Founder of The Rockets)
Gigi Brown (Harvest Moon Ball Champion, Mama Lou Parks Dancer, State Department Africa Tour)
David Butts (Harvest Moon Ball Champion, Mama Lou Parks Dancer, State Department Africa Tour)
Gloria Thompson (Mama Lou Parks Dancer, State Department Africa Tour, Harvest Moon Ball Finalist, Savoy Dancer)
Coley Wallace (Last Living Savoy Ballroom Bouncer, Heavyweight Contender, Starred in the Movie the Joe Louis Story)
Helen Banks (Savoy Ballroom Dancer, Appeared in Soundies, Member of the Harlem Ski Team)
Stay tuned for more details!
