Frankie Manning

He was born on the 26th May, 1914 in Jacksonville, Florida, but he sadly passed away on the 27th April, 2009 - which was just before his 95th birthday.

A tribute to him from some of his many fans - a compilation of people doing a dance he introduced to the swing community. It contains some 5,000 people dancing from about 22 different countries - performing to Jimmie Lunceford's - Tain't What You Do.

He performed in numnerous films and performed all over the world with some of the great Jazz performers of our time, such as Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.

He was rediscovered in the mid 1980's. Since then he spent his time teaching, performing and doing choreography.

He began dancing as a child - progressing to the Savoy when he was older.

In 1935 - while performing in a swing dance competition, he performed the first air step with his dance partner - Fridea Washington.

Air steps were sometimes known as 'aerials'.

He was competing against - George 'Shorty' Snowden and his partner Big Bea .

The move was a 'back to back roll' - the airstep was perfect and apparently the audience of some 2,000 people watched in awe.

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