Here is an article I wrote for AusDance magazine a few years ago. It’s more of an academic/professional magazine, read mostly by dancers in other styles (especially contemporary, classical and ballroom), who in Australia don’t tend to know much about Lindy. So it̵...
If you’re a swing dancer and you haven’t heard about The Lindy Hopper’s Fund yet, this is dead important. Essentially, it’s a not-for-profit organisation run by a group of passionate and caring Lindy Hoppers (including many names you’ll know well), t...
Whilst in Suffolk this weekend, a lovely lady by the name of Anne gave me a short chapter to read from a book she had with her, “The Nature of Happiness” By Desmond Morris. The chapter was entitled “Rhythmic Happiness: The Dancer”, and here it is – a...
Ahh, how the times were a-changing. In contrast to some of those scathing anti-jitterbug articles from the 20s and 30s that I’ve already posted, here is an article from the 20th September 1943 edition of the New York Times (page 23): Jitterbug Accepted as Ballroom Dance New...
Here is a charming article from the New York Times on 26th October 1938 (page 20). My favourite bit is “cannibalistic rhythmic orgies” – cannibalistic? Wow. Again, I guess I’m going straight to hell. The full article reads: WARNS OF EFFECTS OF ‘SWIN...
A 1933 newspaper article from the New York Amsterdam News (May 3rd). This one headlined “Dixie Dance Hall Closes, Savoy Remains One of its Kind.” Click on the thumbnail below to view the scan of the original newspaper article: The article reads: Dixie Dance Hall Close...
I just adore this article from the August 1921 edition of the Ladies Home Journal (pages 16-34). It was written by Anne Shaw Faulkner, head of the Music Department of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. According to Miss Faulkner, I am clearly going to hell. Enjoy! Doe...
Another 30′s newspaper article I dug up, this one reading “Savoy Shatters Own Record “, from the Wednesday 5th of October 1932 edition of the New York Amsterdam News. Can you imagine that lineup – all four bands, in one ballroom, on one day!?! Click on th...
Lindy Hoppers can geek out over this newspaper article from the New York Amsterdam News, Wednesday 1st October 1930 about the Savoy Ballroom. Check out the advert in the bottom right entitled “Savoy Night of Happiness”. Mentions of Fess Williams’ and Fletcher He...
