Norma Miller...

[SwinginAngel]

One of the original lindy hoppers, I got to meet her this past weekend! She was very cool, very funny. I saw videos from some of the shows Whitey's Lindy Hoppers put on and let me tell you, it is still amazing to watch today. I love thinking about how they just came up with all these dance moves. Norma now has a bad back so she doesn't dance but when the music came on she grooved a little. She has such good sense of music and you can still see the dancer in her from those few moments.

Later everyone was dancing and I asked her if the dancing looked very different now. She told me she doesn't watch the dancing; she just listens to the music. It made me sad because I wonder if she misses dancing. How can you go your whole life living and breathing dance, and then not be able to do it anymore?

Just some thoughts...

[d nice]

I love Norma, she is a great person, as real as real gets.

She is also quite the firecracker.

She was great fun to dance and teach with, and while she may no longer be able to cut the rug the way she once did, she still has much to teach us.

[pygmalion]

Wow, Swingin Angel. That sounds like such a powerful experience. 8) It does seems sad that she didn't get to dance. :cry:

BTW, Did you know Frankie Manning is scheduled to come to Pinellas Park, FL early next year? I'll have to look up the details, but that's another one that's worth the drive.

[Sagitta]

Definitely. Don't miss Frankie Manning if you can help it!! :) Wow! When that guy came to Syracuse, NY this year he really got down and into it!! :)

[pygmalion]

Yay! I found the info for Frankie Manning. The fireside chat sounds great! Better take some lindy lessons first, if I want to do the workshops! :lol:

February 21-22, 2004 Franky Manning, a living legend in the development of lindy hop, 89 yrs young, will be at SAVOY South Dance Hall, Pinellas Park, FL. Saturday will be afternoon workshops and an evening dance. Sunday will be brunch, fireside chat with Mr. Manning, followed by afternoon dancing. Don't miss your opportunity to meet and be inspired to dance by the Grand Daddy of Lindy Hop. For additional information and registration, contact Arleene Norman. 727-528-6885 or arleene@verizon.net <mailto:arleene@verizon.net> Information on SAVOY South Dance Hall is available at savoysouth.com

[SwinginAngel]

BTW, Did you know Frankie Manning is scheduled to come to Pinellas Park, FL early next year? I'll have to look up the details, but that's another one that's worth the drive.

I know :D . Norma mentioned that she would be here in February too. I cannot wait. They say Frankie is going to teach us the real Shim Sham. I am excited already. I definitely will not miss it :wink:

[pygmalion]

Yay! Maybe I'll see you there! :D Wouldn't miss it for the world! (I really better take some lessons! :lol: :lol: )

[pygmalion]

Had you heard about this? Another Frankie Manning dance event. :D

Frankie Manning's 90th Birthday Cruise! May 22nd - May 29th, 2004. SAVE THE DATES!
Help celebrate Frankie Manning's 90th birthday by cruising and dancing (two of Frankie's most favorite things)! For those of you who missed out on Frankie's 89th Birthday Cruise last May 2003, you now have an opportunity to join Frankie for his 90th b-day cruise. Right now, the dates, ship, schedule, workshop teachers, and costs are all being worked out. Stay tuned for updated information!
General info: 7-day cruise to the Caribbean with Frankie Manning. Location: Aboard the (ship is TBA) We will be traveling aboard the regularly scheduled cruise PLUS we will be adding the Lindy Hop festivities! Seven (?) days of cruising and dancing fun. There will be dance workshops featuring some of the finest Swing and Lindy Hop masters in the World, plus evening dances. Featuring: Frankie Manning, + others (TBA).
Cost: (TBA)

I'll web search and see if I can find more details. Too many TBA's for my liking. Does anybody else have more info?

[d nice]

Yeah, last years was suppossed to be a lot of fun. I was threatened to go to the next one, but again I'll be teaching and judging at the Eastern Canadian Swing Championships that same weekend, so no cruise for me.

Then again he'll be here in Northern California in a handful of weeks at a NCLS event I'm teaching at. Frankie is a great guy. If you get the chance go up and talk to him in person. As charismatic and funny as he is when he is "on" he is even more personable one on one.

[SwinginAngel]

Yay! Maybe I'll see you there! :D Wouldn't miss it for the world! (I really better take some lessons! :lol: :lol: )

That would be cool! What type of dancing do you do, east coast? If you stay Sunday evening you should go to Zendah also. Its in Tampa.

[pygmalion]

I do East Coast and West Coast, and lindy is on my list of stuff to start before Feb. So I think I'd better take those lindy lessons, and stop threatening! :lol:

[mwdean]

I'm sitting here in SW Florida with the famous Norma Miller reading through everyones comments and I must say we are both very impressed that everyone is excited about swing. I've got great news for all you Norma Miller fans. She has a new book coming out in 2005 as well as a Documentary that is being produced by Dreamtime Entertainment (A production company responsible for several documentaries for the History channel and PBS as well as Feature films.) Norma is currently touring the country and setting up for her big tour when the book and film comes out in 2005. If your interested in more information, please respond and let everyone know... SWING is NOT dead... it's just been resting a bit...!!!

Norma says to you all... "Remember if you don't dig swing, you don't dig fried chicken." and "Thanks for all your wonderful comments."

Lets get everyone excited about the new film and get big audiences to come out and see her on the new tour!Back to top
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[etchuck]

Cool!!!

Is there a website for more info about the book/doc tour? If so, please send me a private message with the link.

[edited by Dance Mentor - we try to avoid links to commercial material except in Website and Ads and Event Announcements]

[mwdean]

We are currently building a website for Norma and should have something together in the coming weeks. I'm even try to talk Norma into doing a live online chat sometime soon for all who are interested!

[SwinginAngel]

I am definitely interested in learning more! I can't wait until they come out. :D

[SDsalsaguy]

We are currently building a website for Norma and should have something together in the coming weeks. I'm even try to talk Norma into doing a live online chat sometime soon for all who are interested!
Hiya mwdean, and welcome to the Dance Forums. When you have the website completed please post it in our Dance Websites (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewforum.php?f=7) forum.. which we have for exactly such purposes! :D