Celebrating Swing Dancing and the Savoy Ballroom!

Google Dooles 25.05.2021 22:45  Date: May 26, 2021 Go behind-the-scenes of today’s Doodle below! Today’s interactive game Doodle celebrates swing dancing and the Savoy Ballroom—an iconic Swing Era dance hall that thrived from the 1920s to 50s in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. On this day in 2002, Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, two of members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, unveiled a commemorative plaque where its entrance once stood. The Savoy Ballroom made history as one of the first racially integrated public spaces in United States when it opened its doors with a no-discrimination policy in 1926. In the early 20th century, Harlem housed a predominantly Black community, including those who migrated from other parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean. This community’s impact was prevalent throughout Harlem, as the neighborhood thrived as a site for creativity and culture—and the home of the Savoy Ballroom. Albeit a white-owned institution, the Black community of Harlem made the Savoy the cultural heartbeat of the neighborhood and an epicenter of innovation for swing dance and music worldwide. The Savoy’s ballroom awaited guests up two marble staircases on the second floor, featuring a 10,000-square foot mahogany and maple dance floor that was a city block long. The glamorous dance hall sparkled as a hub of jazz and jive. The Savoy’s twin bandstands hosted seamless live music as many of the world’s acclaimed jazz musicians—including the likes of Chick Webb, Count Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald—trumpeted out the soundtrack for thousands of dancers each night . In step with the big band energy, patrons powered the nightclub with the electricity of ever-evolving swing dance styles. The Charleston, the Big Apple, and in later years the Mambo, were among dances enjoyed at the Savoy, but the most popular was the vivacious Lindy Hop, which was born and bred in the ballroom. The Lindy Hop is characterized by a swinging rhythmic connection between partners, a flurry of acrobatic air steps in the performance version, and footwork that contributed to one of the Savoy’s signature nicknames: “The Home of Happy Feet.” With the synergistic life forces of jazz dance and music, the Savoy Ballroom shined as a melting pot of Harlem nightlife during a time of racial segregation for the next three decades. In 1958, the Savoy Ballroom closed its doors for good but its international impact is still felt to this day. At its historic location in between 140th and 141st Street on New York City’s Lenox Avenue, a commemorative plaque honors the Ballroom and its legacy as a home of cultural innovation. Here’s to all the memories swingin’ at the Savoy! Early sketches and concepts from the making of the Doodle Swing Dancing and Savoy Ballroom Doodle Team Doodle Team Art | Nate Swinehart, Kevin Laughlin Engineering | Conner Lane, Stephanie Gu, Jacob Howcroft, Audrey Lovan and David Lu UX Design | Anthony Irwin Producers | Colin Duffy & Greg Capuano Marketing | Perla Campos, Sierra Menzies Business Affairs & Partnerships | Madeline Belliveau Music Legal Manager | Joy Edgar Doodle Team Leads | Jessica Yu, Brian Kaas, Tom Tabanao Thanks to all of our project collaborators! The Spirit Moves | , Dancetime Publications | and Sugar Sullivan Rik Panganiban And a special thank you to the Frankie Manning Foundation for their work preserving the history of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, and for their support for this project. Music Credits Bei Mir Bist Du Schon Performed by Janis Siegel Courtesy of Hollywood Records, Inc. “Bei Mir Bust Du Schoen” Written by Sammy Cahn, Sholom Secunda Cahn Music Company/ Williamson Music Company By arrangement with Concord “BEI MIR BIST DU SCHON ” By Jacob Jacobs, Sholom Sholem Secunda, Sammy Cahn, and Saul Chaplin WC Music Corp. obo itself and Estate of Sheldon Secunda “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” Performed by Ella Fitzgerald Courtesy of Verve Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” from “Shall We Dance” Words and Music by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin Copyright © 1937 Nokawi Music / Frankie G. Songs / Ira Gershwin Music Nokawi Music administered in the United States by Steve Peter Music . Frankie G. Songs administered by Downtown Music Publishing. Ira Gershwin Music administered by WB Music Corp. Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved. “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” Written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin Published by Frankie G. Songs c/o Downtown Music Publishing “LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF” By Ira Gershwin and George Gershwin Chappell & Co. Inc. and Warner Geo Met Ric Music obo Ira Gershwin Music Careless Whisper feat. Robyn Adele Anderson & Dave Koz by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox “CARELESS WHISPER” By George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley WC Music Corp. obo Warner Chappell MLM Limited and Wham Music Limited “Solid As A Rock” Performed by Ella Fitzgerald Courtesy of Verve Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises “SOLID AS A ROCK” Words by Bob Hilliard Music by Dave Mann Used with permission from Bourne Co. www.bournemusic.com ASCAP Solid As A Rock Written by Bob Hilliard and Dave Mann Courtesy of Better Half Music Company and RYTVOC, Inc. Location: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,