Hot Shots (dance companies)

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Catrine Ljunggren and Lennart Westerlund performing at Masters of Lindy Hop and Tap, Century Ballroom, Seattle, Washington, 2009. Lennart Westerlund & Catrine Ljunggren 04.jpg
Catrine Ljunggren and Lennart Westerlund performing at Masters of Lindy Hop and Tap, Century Ballroom, Seattle, Washington, 2009.

The Hot Shots is a collective name for two closely related Swedish dance companies based in Stockholm, Sweden: The Rhythm Hot Shots and the Harlem Hot Shots. The Hot Shots specialize in faithful reproductions of African-American dance scenes in American films from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. Dances that they perform include Lindy Hop, Tap dance, Cakewalk, Charleston, and Black Bottom. The members of the Hot Shots are also respected dance instructors and accomplished social dancers. The goals of The Rhythm Hot Shots and the Harlem Hot Shots are the same.

Contents

On 6 May 2005, all of the current and previous members of the Hot Shots celebrated 20 years by performing "20 Years With the Hot Shots" at Södra Teatern in Stockholm.

The Rhythm Hot Shots

The Rhythm Hot Shots (TRHS, officially The Rhythm Hot Shots Dance & Show Handelsbolag or TRHS Dance & Show HB) is a Swedish performance dance company founded in 1985 and dissolved in 2002. Members of The Rhythm Hot Shots were instrumental in the 1980s and 90s Lindy Hop revival.

Members

Star*.svg Founding member

1985–1986 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Lena Ramberg
1985–1988 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Anders Lind
1985–2002 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Lennart Westerlund
1985–2002 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Catrine Ljunggren
1985–2002 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Eddie Jansson
1985–2002 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Eva Lagerqvist Jansson, née Eva Lagerqvist
1986–199? Flag of Sweden.svg Ewa 'W' Staremo Burak, née Ewa Staremo
1988–1989 Flag of Sweden.svg Lars Lundberg
1990–1994 Flag of Sweden.svg Martin Wedby
1991–1994 Flag of Sweden.svg Anita Kankimäki
1993–1995 Flag of Sweden.svg David Dalmo
1994–2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Ulrika Larsdotter Ericsson, née Ulrika Ericsson
1997–2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Åsa Palm
1997–2001 Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Benedikt "Beni" Furrer
199?–2001 Flag of Sweden.svg Ulrika Thulin
1998–2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Lundmark
2000–2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Hanna Zetterman
2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Frida Segerdahl
2002 Flag of Sweden.svg Sakarias Larsson

Collaborators

Other dancers, including former members, have performed with The Rhythm Hot Shots on various occasions.

YearDancerPerformance
1990 Flag of the United States.svg Harold Nicholas Come to Broadway (production)
1996 Flag of the United States.svg Norma Miller Jumpin´ at the Jubilee (production)
1997 Flag of Sweden.svg Kenneth & Helena NorbelieSwing Camp Catalina (dance camp)
2000 Flag of the United States.svg Diane van Haaren (née Thomas)What is this Thing called Swing? (USA tour)
2001 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Angela Andrew, Flag of the United States.svg Chazz Young Herräng Swing Bus (Europe tour)
2002 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Angela Andrew, Flag of the United States.svg Chazz YoungHerräng Swing Bus (Europe tour)

(Incomplete)

Harlem Hot Shots

The Harlem Hot Shots (HHS, sometimes spelled Harlem Hotshots) is a Swedish dance company formed in autumn 2002 that includes several members of The Rhythm Hot Shots.

Members

Star*.svg Founding member

2002–present Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Frida Segerdahl
2002–present Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Sakarias Larsson
2002–present Star*.svg Flag of Belgium (civil).svg Flag of Sweden.svg Fatima Teffahi
2005–present Flag of Sweden.svg Jenny Deurell
2008–present Flag of Sweden.svg Rikard Ekstrand
2008–present Flag of Sweden.svg Jessica Lennartsson
2008–present Flag of Sweden.svg Frida Borg
2008–present Flag of Sweden.svg Pontus Persson
2012–present Flag of Sweden.svg Fredrik Dahlberg
2012–present Flag of Sweden.svg Mimmi Gunnarsson
2014–present Flag of Sweden.svg Gabriella Rosati
2016–present Flag of Sweden.svg Nils Nygårdh
2016–present Flag of Sweden.svg Patrik Pettersson
2017–present Flag of Sweden.svg Lizette Rönnqvist
2018–present Flag of Sweden.svg Frida Häggström
2002–2011 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Lennart Westerlund
2002–2007 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Hanna Zetterman
2002–2007 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Mattias Lundmark
2002–2007 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Åsa Palm
2002–2007 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Daniel Heedman
2002–2004 Star*.svg Flag of Sweden.svg Johanna Müller

Collaborators

Other dancers, including former members of the Hot Shots, have performed with the Harlem Hot Shots on various occasions.

YearDancerPerformance
2003 Flag of the United States.svg Ria DeBiaseSpirit of Swing (USA/Canada tour)
2004 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Angela Andrew, Flag of the United States.svg Mike FaltesekHerräng Swing Bus (Europe tour)

(Incomplete)

History

Anders Lind began studying at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden in 1978 and became interested in swing dance as a student. He became a member of the Swedish Swing Society (SSS, formed in 1978), a dance club that originally focused on competition and show. The Swedish Swing Society initially recruited dancers from Lasse Kühlers dance school. So when Lennart Westerlund started to dance at Lasse Kühlers dance school in 1980, he was recruited into the Swedish Swing Society in 1981, where he met Anders Lind. Lennart Westerlund, Catrine Lunggren, Anders Lind, and Lena Ramberg started to dance together in a small performance group as a part of the Swedish Swing Society in 1983.

Anders Lind became interested in searching for the history of the dance and in autumn 1983, he found a copy of "Jazz Dance: The Story of American Vernacular Dance" by Marshall and Jean Stearns in an unknown library in Dansmuseet (dance museum). Excited about the discovery, he copied three chapters of the book and handed them out to his fellow SSS members. Prior to finding "Jazz Dance", everyone believed that Jitterbug was a dance that originated from the 1940s. They learned from the book that Jitterbug was originally called Lindy Hop and originated in Harlem, NY during the end of the 1920s.

At the age of 15, Eddie Jansson and Eva Lagerqvist started dancing at Lasse Kühlers dance school, where they met each other in 1983. After one year at the dance school, they joined the Swedish Swing Society. Eddie and Eva and another couple formed a group called Dance Freaks in spring 1984. Dance Freaks performed together one time before splitting up.

"Jazz Dance" listed several films that included Lindy Hop sequences. When A Day at the Races was shown in a theater in Stockholm, Anders and Lennart went to watch the movie. They found the dance sequences so exciting that they returned with a video camera to record all of the dance scenes. When Hellzapoppin' was shown at the KTH student theatre, they were in awe by the dancing in the film. The speed, acrobatics, and skill of the dancers was like nothing they had ever seen before. They started discussing a trip to New York City to find someone who could teach them how to dance the same way.

In April 1984, Anders Lind, Lennert Westerlund, and Henning Sörensen (Secretary for the Swedish Swing Society) travelled to New York City seeking Al Minns, a surviving member of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers that Anders had found in "Jazz Dance". While in Stockholm, Anders Lind had found a copy of the New York City yellow pages and torn out the pages listing dance schools. When they arrived in NYC, Anders Lind decided to call the dance schools that taught Lindy Hop. As luck would have it, the first dance school he called also happened to be the one that Al Minns taught it. They ended up meeting Al Minns two days later at a nightclub.

Count Basie had just died and his band members as well as the artists and dancers that had worked with him had planned a memorial dance in his honor at The Red Parrot, a nightclub in New York City. Anders Lind learned about the event and the three Swedes showed up at the nightclub and found Al Minns dancing Lindy Hop there. Al Minns had started teaching at Sandra Cameron Dance Center in 1982 [1] and invited them to his dance class. Anders Lind also took the opportunity to take some classes with Norma Miller. When they returned to Sweden, Henning recommended to the board members of the Swedish Swing Society to invite Al Minns to Stockholm to teach and give lectures. Despite having a fear of flying, Al Minns traveled to Sweden in October 1984 for a 5-day workshop and brought a different approach to the dance with him. He told them to "Forget counting, just listen!".

During the summer of 1984, the Swedish Swing Society arranged for the SSS performance group to perform for a few shows during the Stockholm Jazz Festival. The group asked Eddie and Eva to join them and for their first performance, the three couples performed on the main stage in front of 2000 people while accompanied live by The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band. The performances were very successful and afterwards the three couples considered working together in the future, perhaps at a professional level.

After months of discussion, Lennart Westerlund, Anders Lind, Eddie Jansson, Catrine Ljunggren, Lena Ramberg and Eva Lagerqvist decided to form a dance company in the summer of 1985 when The Harlem Blues & Jazz Band returned to Stockholm. They called themselves The Rhythm Hot Shots. Lennart danced with Catrine, Eddie danced with Eva, and Anders danced with Lena.

Al Minns was invited back to Stockholm in 1985 but he became too ill to travel and died on 24 April 1985. From Al Minns, TRHS learned that Frankie Manning, another surviving member of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, was also living in New York City. In 1986, Lennart contacted Frankie Manning and in 1987, invited Frankie to Sweden for the first time to work with the dance company. [2]

Before Frankie Manning visited Sweden, The Rhythm Hot Shots had learned how to Lindy Hop by watching old movies in slow motion, such as Hellzapoppin' and A Day at the Races. [2] They would spend four hours watching a film clip on TV just to learn one or two dance steps. They trained together intensively six days a week for several hours. When Frankie Manning visited Sweden in 1987, he stayed for two weeks. At that time, Lena had left the dance company and Ewa Staremo partnered Anders. Since two members of TRHS now had first names that were pronounced the same way – Eva Lagerqvist and Ewa Staremo – Frankie nicknamed Ewa Staremo "W" to quickly differentiate the two. The members of TRHS had regular day jobs so during the first week of Frankie's visit, they met after work at around 16:00 or 17:00 and worked together for four to five hours every night. During the second week, they moved to Herräng, where the Swedish Swing Society had been holding a small dance camp, the Herräng Dance Camp, since 1982. They stayed and practiced in Folkets Hus, the community center in Herräng. [2] During those two weeks, TRHS learned for the first time how to social dance. [2]

In 1989, TRHS became involved with organizing the Herräng Dance Camp with the Swedish Swing Society. They invited Frankie Manning back to Sweden to teach at the dance camp, where he has returned to every year since then. [2]

During the 1990s, TRHS achieved international fame and traveled worldwide to perform and teach at dance camps and workshops in North America, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. The Lindy Hop routine from Hellzapoppin' that they had originally learned in the early 1980s became their hallmark routine that they both performed and taught internationally.

Members of TRHS were the first international instructors to teach Lindy Hop in the former Soviet Union. On 5 April 2000, Lennart Westerlund, Catrine Lunggren, Mattias Lunmark, Åsa Palm, and Hanna Zetterman traveled to St Petersburg, Russia to help introduce Lindy Hop to 15 to 20 Russian dancers during a six-day workshop made possible by a grant from the Swedish Institute. All of the Russian dancers who attended the workshop were then awarded scholarships to attend the Herräng Dance Camp during the summer of 2000. Since then, Lindy Hop has spread to Ukraine and Lithuania.

During the late 1990s/early 2000s, several new members joined TRHS while some older members became inactive and no longer performed or taught classes, but were still members of the dance company. The 2002 Herräng Dance Camp, which TRHS owned, almost ended in bankruptcy. In autumn 2002, The Rhythm Hot Shots dance company was dissolved. The Rhythm Hot Shots Dance & Show Handelsbolag (organisationsnr 969607-7073) was unregistered and in 2004, "The Rhythm Hot Shots" trademark was transferred from The Rhythm Hot Shots Dance & Show Handelsbolag to Lennart Westerlund, Catrine Ljunggren, Eddie Jansson, Ulrika Larsdotter Ericsson, and Eva Lagerqvist Jansson.

The Harlem Hot Shots was formed by active members of TRHS in autumn 2002. Individuals who did not become members of the Harlem Hot Shots – such as Catrine Ljunggren, Eddie Jansson, Eva Lagerqvist Jansson, and Ulrika Larsdotter Ericsson – continue to teach and perform worldwide. For example, in 2006, Catrine Ljunggren helped organize the first international Lindy Hop festival in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The dance camp ran from December 1 to 3 and was so successful that it is planned to be repeated again in December 2007.

Swedish Swing Society

The Swedish Swing Society (SSS) is a non-profit dance organization in Stockholm, Sweden that teaches Lindy Hop and other swing related dances. As the major swing dance society in Stockholm, most swing dancers have been a member of the SSS, and the Hot Shots are no exception. The Hot Shots and SSS have had a very close relationship from the beginning of the Hot Shots, with cross-memberships in both organizations. For example, the founders of The Rhythm Hot Shots were also members of the SSS. Almost all of the Hot Shots are either current or past members of the SSS, as well as current or past instructors for the SSS, such as Lena Ramberg, Frida Segerdahl, and Sakarias Larsson.

Some of the Hot Shots have been elected as honorary members of the SSS: Lennart Westerlund (1990-11-14), Anita Kankimäki (1993-11-27), and Anders Lind (1998-11-21). Other honorary SSS members that were important in the history of the Hot Shots include Lasse Kühler and Henning Sörensen (1998-11-21).

Herräng Dance Camp

The Rhythm Hot Shots hosted the annual Herräng Dance Camp from 1989 until 2002, a dance camp in Herräng, Sweden that attracts students and teachers from all over the world. Since the 2003 dance camp, Lorenz Ilg (originator of Swing City) and members of the Harlem Hot Shots (Fatima Teffahi, Frida Segerdahl, Daniel Heedman, and Lennart Westerlund) organize and run the Herräng Dance Camp.

Jesses Jassklubb

For several years The Rhythm Hot Shots and later the Harlem Hot Shots ran Jesses Jassklubb (also known as Jesses Jazzklubb, Jesses Jazz Club, Jesse's Jazz Club), a swing dance party held every Wednesday evening during the autumn and spring months. The autumn program was typically from September to early December and the spring program was from late January to late May. From 18:30 to 19:30, there was a drop-in beginner Lindy Hop dance lesson with members of TRHS/HHS and from 20:00 to 23:00 there was a swing/jazz band with DJed music between band breaks.

Jesses Jassklubb was named after its founder, Jens "Jesse" Lindgren (trombone player in Kustbandet and other bands). According to Jens Lindgren, the word "jazz" was spelled with s instead of z because originally it was spelled "jass" in New Orleans, and it helped emphasize the type of music played at the club.

For more than 11 years, Jesses Jassklubb was located at Mariahissen, Pryssgränd 14 in central Stockholm. The Mariahissen location featured a medium-sized hardwood dance floor, minimal food service, and a beautiful view of Gamla stan. On 14 April 2004 Jesses Jassklubb was held at the Mariahissen location for the last time. On 2 June 2004, Jesses Jassklubb reopened again at Hornsgatan 75, Stockholm, the current location of the Chicago Swing Dance Studio. However, the jazz club had to immediately close again since the Hornsgatan location needed additional sound insulation before another dance could be held. When the Wednesday night dances started again in autumn at a different location, the name changed to Zacke's Jazz Corner.

Zacke's Jazz Corner

On 8 September 2004, the Harlem Hot Shots continued the tradition of Wednesday night swing dances at a new location: Garant festvåning, Varvsgatan 14, Stockholm with Hasse Ling and his Syncopators of Swing. This new dance location become known as Zacke's Jazz Corner and was named after Sakarias Larsson, one of the founders of the Harlem Hot Shots. When the dances were moved to Chicago Swing Dance Studio at Hornsgatan 75 on 16 February 2005, they were originally referred to as "Jesses, Zackes, Savoy, or whatever you want to call it." Zacke's Jazz Corner was the name that prevailed and is used today to refer to the Wednesday night swing dances at Chicago.

Hornsgatan 75

In March 2004, Lennart Westerlund took over the contract for Hornsgatan 75 in central Stockholm, originally the location of a movie theater by the name of Chicago (from 1907 to mid-1960s). When members of the Harlem Hot Shots took over the locale, they slowly remodeled and created a dance studio with an old-fashioned nightclub atmosphere called Chicago Swing Dance Studio. The locale is 350 m2 with a dance floor that is approximately 180 m2 and includes an office, storage area, kitchen, rest rooms, and a sitting area.

Chicago Swing Dance Studio opened in May 2004 for dance classes in Lindy Hop, tap dance, and classic jazz dance. Other dances that have also been taught include Salsa, Tango Argentino, and West African dance.

The Herräng Dance Camp office moved from Vetegatan 5 to Hornsgatan 75 in the summer of 2004.

When the HHS attempted to move Jesses Jassklubb to Hornsgatan 75 on 2 June 2004, it became apparent that additional sound insulation was needed before more dances could be held there. During the summer and autumn of 2004, the HHS increased the sound insulation, added ventilation, and redesigned the interior of the locale. Jesses Jassklubb, which had during autumn 2004 become known as Zacke's Jazz Corner, moved back to Hornsgatan 75 on 16 February 2005.

Vintage routines

The following is a list of the vintage routines that the Hot Shots have performed.

RoutineOriginal performer(s)GenreSongMovieYear
The Three ChefsThe Three Chefs Tap dance Be Careful by Barry PaigeBreakfast in Rhythm (soundie)1943
Hellzapoppin', aka California Routine Whitey's Lindy Hoppers Lindy Hop Jumpin' at the Woodside by Count Basie Hellzapoppin' 1941
One Man DanceFive Blazers, aka Five Hot Shots Tap dance Black Beauty by Duke Ellington Black and Tan Fantasy 1929
 ? Fredi Washington 1920s Charleston Cotton Club Stomp by Duke Ellington Black and Tan Fantasy 1929

(incomplete)

Competition results

The Hot Shots seldom enter dance competitions as their primary objective is dance performances. On occasion, members of the group compete, sometimes with partners that are not members of the Hots Shots. Some members act as judges at Lindy Hop competitions and thus do not compete.

DateLocationCompetitionResults
2007-10-25 to 2007-10-28 Stamford, Connecticut
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Classic Division)
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Todd Yannacone (Cats' Corner)
2007-09-27 to 2007-09-30 St. Paul, Minnesota
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Sakarias Larsson (Liberation / Fast)
  • 3rd: Hannah Zetterman & Mattias Lundmark (Liberation / Fast)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Revolution / Mid Tempo)
  • 2nd: Ramona Staffeld & Sakarias Larsson (Revolution / Mid Tempo)
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Freedom / Slow)
  • 3rd: Frida Segerdahl & Todd Yannacone (Freedom / Slow)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Couples Showcase / Performance)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Andy Reid (Jack n' Jill)
2007-08-05 Stockholm, Sweden
  • Winner: Sakarias Larsson (The Jazz Dancer, authentic jazz dance contest)
2006-11-23 to 2006-11-26 Anaheim, California
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Lindy Showcase)
2006-10-13 to 2006-10-15 Stamford, Connecticut
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Classic Division)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Champions' Jack & Jill)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Cats' Corner)
2006-09-14 to 2006-09-17 St. Paul, Minnesota
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Todd Yannacone (Liberation / Fast)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Revolution / Mid Tempo)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Todd Yannacone (Freedom / Slow)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Lindy Hop Performance)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Peter Strom (Jack n' Jill)
  • Dancers Choice Award: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Favorite Competitors)
2006-07-30 Stockholm, Sweden
  • Winner: Åsa Palm & Daniel Heedman
  • Finalists: Hanna Zetterman & Mattias Lundmark, Frida Segerdahl & Sakarias Larsson
2005-10-20 to 2005-10-23 Stamford, Connecticut
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Classic Division)
2005-09-16 to 2005-09-18 St. Paul, Minnesota
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Mid Tempo)
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Peter Loggins (Invitational Forum / Jack & Jill)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl (Charleston Battle)
  • Dancers Choice Award: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Most Memorable Performers)
2004-10-08 to 2004-10-09 New York City, New York
  • Finalists: Hanna Zetterman & Mattias Lundmark, Frida Segerdahl & Sakarias Larsson
2004-09-24 to 2004-09-26 St. Paul, Minnesota
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Jai Latimer (Champions Jack & Jill)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl (Charleston Battle)
2003-08-14 to 2003-08-17 St. Paul, Minnesota
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl & Skye Humphries (Power to the People)
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Ben Furnas (Power to the People)
  • 1st: Frida Segerdahl (Charleston Battle)
2003-06-14 New York City, New York Harlem Jazz Dance Festival's Hellzapoppin'
  • Finalists: Hanna Zetterman & Mattias Lundmark, Frida Segerdahl & Sakarias Larsson, Johanna Müller & Daniel Heedman
2002-08-09 Stockholm, Sweden
  • 17th: Catrine Ljunggren & Elliot Donnelley
2002-05-18 to 2002-05-19 Karlstad, Sweden
  • 2nd: Frida Segerdahl & Sakarias Larsson
1997-08-11 Stockholm, SwedenWorld Lindy Hop Championship
  • 3rd: Annika Lundmark & Mattias Lundmark
1997-04-05 Kista, SwedenAl Minns Cup
  • 3rd: Annika Lundmark & Mattias Lundmark (Lindy Hop Adult B)
1996SwedenSwedish Championship Lindy Hop
  • 1st: Åsa Rickardsson & David Dalmo
1995 Oslo, NorwayWorld Lindy Hop Championship
  • 1st: Anna Sandesjö & David Dalmo
1995SwedenSwedish Championship Lindy Hop
  • 1st: Åsa Rickardsson & David Dalmo
1993SwedenSwedish Championship Lindy Hop
  • 1st: Åsa Rickardsson & David Dalmo

(Incomplete)

Credits

Musicals and theatrical productions

DateDance Co.ProductionLocation
2005-11-27HHSBlue House Jazz with Jan Lundgren Trio & Andreas Pettersson QuartetKonserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
2005-11-24 to 2005-11-30HHSChildren's Shows: The dance that disappearedRosenlundsteatern, Stockholm, Sweden
2005-11-06TRHS & HHS20 Years with the Hot Shots Södra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden
2005-03-16 to 2005-03-17HHSS.W.I.N.G - stratospheric dance show from the days of guys and dollsRosenlundsteatern, Stockholm, Sweden
2005HHSHarlem en Douce FranceRosenlundsteatern, Stockholm, Sweden
2004-12-10HHSGunhild Carling VarietéLunds Stadsteater, Lund, Sweden
2004-12-04HHSA Spectacular Concert by Swing That Music with Harlem Hot ShotsDieselverkstaden, Stockholm, Sweden
2004HHSHollywood Goes Black and TanSweden tour
2004-05HHSJazz Dance - den sanna historienChicago Swing Dance Studio, Stockholm, Sweden
2003-05-02 to 2003-06-16HHSSpirit of SwingUSA/Canada tour
2003HHSSwing Is the ThingSweden tour
2003-04HHSBlack BeautyKonserthuset, Stockholm, Sweden
2002-11TRHSThe Great Swing PartySweden tour
2002TRHSSwing TimeNalen, Stockholm, Sweden
2000TRHSWhat Is This Thing Called Swing?Nalen, Stockholm, Sweden

USA tour

1999TRHSSwingTeater Replica, Stockholm, Sweden
1998TRHSHep to the JiveKomediteatern, Stockholm, Sweden
1996TRHSJumpin' at the Jubilee Södra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden
1994TRHSHello DollySkandiateatern, Norrköping, Sweden
1993TRHSJublar AnammaSkandiateatern, Norrköping, Sweden
1990TRHSCome to BroadwaySödra Teatern, Stockholm, Sweden

(Incomplete)

Other performances

DateDance Co.ProductionLocation
2004HHSHerräng Swing BusEurope tour
2003-01HHS Bugle Call Rag Century Ballroom, Seattle, Washington
2002TRHSHerräng Swing BusEurope tour
2001TRHSHerräng Swing BusEurope tour

(Incomplete)

Commercials

DateDance Co.OrganizationCommercial
1997TRHSKappAhl ClothesStepp in (tap dance in)
1996TRHSKappAhl ClothesJulfilmen (the Christmas movie)
1996TRHSKappAhl ClothesCandela
1991TRHS Arla Milk Mjölk ger starka ben (milk gives strong bones/legs)

Awards

DateDance Co.AwardLocation
1996TRHSWinner of the Frankie Award for Everlasting Work to Preserve and Spread the African-American Dance Culture Munich, Germany
1994TRHSWinners of the Feather Award for Most Outstanding Global Swing Dancers Beverly Hills, California, United States
1992TRHSWinner of Amateur Night Apollo Theater, Harlem, New York, United States

Mass media

News and documentaries

DateDance Co.ChannelProgramDescription
2007-07-02 07:45HHSSVT1Gomorron Sverige"Lindy Hop i studion med Lindy Hop-dansare från världens största swingdansläger i Herräng." (Lindy Hop in the studio with Lindy Hop dancers from the world's largest swing dance camp in Herräng.) Interview and performance with Daniel Heedman & Åsa Palm. (11:20)
2007-07-01 19:30HHSSVT1Rapport"Dansfestival i Herräng i fem veckor." (Five week dance festival in Herräng.) Herräng Dance Camp celebrates 25 years. Interview with Lennart Westerland plus dancers from around the world. Reporter: Therese Andersson. (2:30)
2006-07-22 08:59HHSTV4Nyhetsmorgon lördag"Lindy Hop-läger lockar folk från hela världen." (Lindy Hop camp attracts people from the entire world.) Interview with dancers from around the world at the Herräng Dance Camp.
2005-07-03 21:00
2005-12-31 17:00 (rerun)
HHSSVT1, SVT EuropaDocumentary of the Herräng Dance Camp by Svante Grundberg and Jan M. Forsell. Features Frankie Manning, Fayard Nicholas, Sugar Sullivan, Dawn Hampton, Chazz Young, Steven Mitchell, Chester Whitmore and the Harlem Hot Shots. (60:00)

(Incomplete)

Articles

DateDance Co.NewspaperTitleAuthorDescription
2006-03-30HHS Arbetarbladet Catharina NilssonMattias Lundmark and Jenny Deurell from Stockholm are in Tierp to teach 4th and 5th graders to dance Lindy Hop.

(Incomplete)

Trivia

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shim Sham</span> Dance routine

The Shim Sham Shimmy,Shim Sham or just Sham originally is a particular tap dance routine and is regarded as tap dance's national anthem. For today's swing dancers, it is a line dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jitterbug</span> Dance style associated with swing dance

Jitterbug is a generalized term used to describe swing dancing. It is often synonymous with the lindy hop dance but might include elements of the jive, east coast swing, collegiate shag, charleston, balboa and other swing dances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frankie Manning</span> American dancer and choreographer (1914–2009)

Frank Manning was an American dancer, instructor, and choreographer. Manning is considered one of the founders of Lindy Hop, an energetic form of the jazz dance style known as swing.

Whitey's Lindy Hoppers was a professional performing group of exceptional swing dancers that was first organized in the late 1920s by Herbert "Whitey" White in the Savoy Ballroom and disbanded in 1942 after its male members were drafted into World War II. The group took on many different forms and had several different names and sub-groups, including Whitey's Hopping Maniacs, Harlem Congeroo Dancers, and The Hot Chocolates. In addition to touring nationally and internationally, the group appeared in several films and Broadway theatre productions. Dorothy Dandridge and Sammy Davis Jr. were among the group's celebrity regulars.

Al Minns, was a prominent American Lindy Hop and jazz dancer. Most famous for his film and stage performances in the 1930s and 1940s with the Harlem-based Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, Minns worked throughout his life to promote the dances that he and his cohorts helped to pioneer at New York's Savoy Ballroom. In 1938, Al Minns and Sandra Gibson won the Harvest Moon Ball.

Sylvia Sykes is an American swing dancer, instructor, judge, and choreographer. She is known for reviving the swing dance style balboa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Lindy Hop</span> History of dance genre

The history of Lindy Hop begins in the African American communities of Harlem, New York during the late 1920s in conjunction with swing jazz. Lindy Hop is closely related to earlier African American vernacular dances but quickly gained its own fame through dancers in films, performances, competitions, and professional dance troupes. It became especially popular in the 1930s with the upsurge of aerials. The popularity of Lindy Hop declined after World War II, and it converted to other forms of dancing, but it never disappeared during the decades between the 1940s and the 1980s until European and American dancers revived it starting from the beginning of the 1980s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herräng</span> Place in Uppland, Sweden

Herräng is the northernmost locality in Norrtälje Municipality, Stockholm County, Sweden, with 422 inhabitants in 2010. It is located 40 kilometres north of the municipal seat Norrtälje along the coast of Singöfjärden, a bay on Roslagen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norma Miller</span> American Lindy hop dancer (1919–2019)

Norma Adele Miller was an American Lindy hop dancer, choreographer, actress, author, and comedian known as the "Queen of Swing".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herräng Dance Camp</span>

Herräng Dance Camp is the largest annual dance camp that focuses on lindy hop, boogie woogie, tap dance, jazz dance, and balboa. It is held annually in July in Herräng, Sweden, and focuses both on instruction and dancing.

"Jumpin' at the Woodside" is a song first recorded in 1938 by the Count Basie Orchestra, and considered one of the band's signature tunes. When first released it reached number 11 on the Billboard charts and remained on them for four weeks. Since then, it has become a frequently recorded jazz standard.

<i>The Spirit Moves</i> 1987 American film directed by Mura Dehn

The Spirit Moves: A History of Black Social Dance on Film, 1900–1986 is a documentary film by Mura Dehn chronicling the evolution of African-American social dance throughout most of the 20th century. In its original form it consists of nearly six hours of rare archival footage shot over the course of thirty years. Since 1987 this complete version has only been available for viewing at a select few institutions. In 2008 the first three parts of Dehn's work, totaling two hours, were remastered and released on DVD by Dancetime Publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chazz Young</span> American choreographer and teacher of tap dance

Charles "Chazz" Young is an American choreographer and teacher of tap dance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindy Hop</span> American dance

The Lindy Hop is an American dance which was born in the African-American communities of Harlem, New York City, in 1928 and has evolved since then. It was very popular during the swing era of the late 1930s and early 1940s. Lindy is a fusion of many dances that preceded it or were popular during its development but is mainly based on jazz, tap, breakaway, and Charleston. It is frequently described as a jazz dance and is a member of the swing dance family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dawn Hampton</span> American singer-songwriter

Dawn Hampton was an American cabaret and jazz singer, saxophonist, dancer, and songwriter. Hampton began her lifelong career as a musical entertainer touring the Midwest as a three-year-old member of the Hampton family's band The Hampton Sisters in the late 1930s. During World War II and into early 1950s, she performed as part of a quartet with her three sisters and in a jazz band with all nine of her surviving siblings. Hampton moved to New York City in 1958 to pursue a solo career as a cabaret singer. She became a singer/songwriter and dancer, which included off-Broadway theatre performances and swing dancing in Hollywood films. Along with other members of the musical Hamptons, she was a recipient of the State of Indiana's Governor Arts Award (1991) and honored at the Indy Jazz Fest (2000) in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Willa Mae Ricker was a prominent American Lindy Hop and jazz dancer and performer during the 1930s and 1940s with the Harlem-based Whitey's Lindy Hoppers. She was known for her physical strength, fashion sense, dependability, business acumen, and passion to dance. According to Norma Miller, Ricker was the first dancer to stand up to Herbert "Whitey" White, demanding fair pay.

References

  1. Manning, Frankie; Cynthia R. Millman (2007). Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Temple University Press. p. 225. ISBN   978-1-59213-563-9. In 1982, they [Larry Schultz and Sandra Cameron] had hired Al Minns ... to teach at the Sandra Cameron Dance Center, which, to my knowledge, was the first time that a dance studio brought in one of the original Savoy Lindy hoppers as a teacher.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Manning, Frankie; Cynthia R Millman (2007). "14: Revival". Frankie Manning: Ambassador of Lindy Hop. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press. ISBN   978-1-59213-563-9.