Swingin' at the Savoy : the memoir of a jazz dancer

Dancer, award-winning choreographer, show producer, stand-up comedienne, TV/film actress, and author, Norma Miller shares her touching historical memoir of Harlem's legendary Savoy Ballroom and the phenomenal music and dance craze that "spread the power of Swing across the world like wildfire". It was a time when the music was Swing, and Harlem was king. Renowned as "the world's most beautiful ballroom, and the largest and most elegant in Harlem, the Savoy was the only ballroom not segregated when it opened in 1926. The Savoy hosted the best bands and attracted the best dancers by offering the challenge of fierce competition. White people travelled uptown to learn exciting new dance styles. Dance contest winner by fourteen, Norma Miller became a member of Herbert White's world famous Whitey's Lindy Hoppers and a celebrated Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hop champion. "Swingin' at the Savoy" chronicles a significant period in American cultural history and race relations, as it glorifies the popularised home of the Lindy hop, and the birthplace of such memorable dance fads as the Big Apple, Shag, Truckin', Peckin', Susie Q, the Charleston, Peabody, Black Bottom, Cake Walk, Boogie Woogie, the Shimmy, and tap dancing. Miller shares anecdotes about her youthful encounters with many of the greatest jazz legends in music history including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Billy Holiday, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters and even boxer Joe Louis. Dancer, award-winning choreographer, show producer, stand-up comedienne, TV/film actress and author, Norma Miller shares her touching historical memoir of Harlem's legendary Savoy Ballroom and the phenomenal music and dance craze that 'spread the power of Swing across the world like Wildfire'. It was a time when the music was Swing, and Harlem was king. Renowned as 'the world's most beautiful ballroom' and the largest, most elegant in Harlem, the Savoy was the only ballroom not segregated when it opened in 1926. The Savoy hosted the best bands and attracted the best dancers by offering the challenge of fierce competition. White people traveled uptown to learn exciting new dance styles. A dance contest winner by fourteen, Norma Miller became a member of Herbert White's world-famous Lindy Hoppers and a celebrated Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hop champion." Swingin' at the Savoy" chronicles a significant period in American cultural history and race relations, as it glorifies the popularized home of the Lindy Hop, and the birthplace of such memorable dance fads as the Big Apple, Shag, Truckin', Peckin', Susie Q, Charleston, Peabody, Black Bottom, Cake Walk, Boogie Woogie, Shimmy, and tap dancing. Miller shares fascinating anecdotes about her youthful encounters with many of the greatest jazz legends in music history including Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw, Duke Ellington, Ethel Waters, and even boxer Joe Louis. Author note: Norma Miller began her career as a choreographer by forming the Norma Miller Jazz Dancers and appeared in Olsen and Johnson's Broadway stage production of Hellzapoppin for five years. Her film credits include "A Day at the Races", "Malcolm X", and "Captiva", and she has toured internationally including an extensive tour in Vietnam during the war. She has performed stand-up comedy on Vegas stages for years and enjoyed a ten-year working relationship with Redd Foxx It Was A Time When The Music Was Swing, And Harlem Was King. Renowned As The World's Most Beautiful Ballroom And The Largest And Most Elegant In Harlem, The Savoy Was The Only Ballroom Not Segregated When It Opened In 1926. The Savoy Hosted The Best Bands And Attracted The Best Dancers By Offering The Challenge Of Fierce Competition. White People Traveled Uptown To Learn Exciting New Dance Styles. A Dance Contest Winner By 14, Norma Miller Became A Member Of Herbert White's Lindy Hoppers And A Celebrated Savoy Ballroom Lindy Hop Champion. Swingin' At The Savoy Chronicles A Significant Period In American Cultural History And Race Relations, As It Glorifies The Home Of The Lindy Hop, And The Birthplace Of Such Memorable Dance Fads As The Big Apple, Shag, Truckin' Peckin', Susie Q, The Charleston, Peabody, Black Bottom, Cake Walk, Boogie Woogie, Shimmy And Tap Dancing. Coming Home -- Coming To America -- Norman Miller -- The Early Years -- The Savoy -- Coming Of Age -- A Man Called Whitey -- The Harvest Moon Ball -- The Swingin' Generation -- The Other Side Of The Ballroom -- Ethel Waters -- Savoy At The World's Fair -- Hollywood Calls -- Swingin' Down To Rio -- Moving On -- Norma Miller Dancers -- On The Road Again -- Swingin' Into The Future -- Saying Goodbye. Norma Miller With Evette Jensen. Swingin' at the Savoy......Page 1 Contents......Page 7 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Portrait of the Swing Era......Page 10 Coming Home......Page 38 Coming to America......Page 42 Norman Miller......Page 47 The Early Years......Page 57 The Savoy......Page 63 Coming of Age......Page 78 A Man Called Whitey......Page 95 The Harvest Moon Ball......Page 102 The Swingin' Generation......Page 120 The Other Side of the Ballroom......Page 144 Ethel Waters......Page 158 Savoy at the World's Fair......Page 170 Hollywood Calls......Page 186 Swingin' Down to Rio......Page 208 Moving On......Page 221 Norma Miller Dancers......Page 239 On the Road Again......Page 254 Swingin' into the Future......Page 270 Saying Goodbye......Page 288 The Future of the Lindy and the New York Swing Dance Society......Page 292 During which time she made numerous TV appearances on his network show. In 1992 Miller was nominated for an Emmy for her choreography in the CBS movie of the week, "Stompin' at the Savoy", and has also been the subject of many documentaries, including National Geographic's television program "Explorer" and the Smithsonian Jazz series on national radio. Evette Jensen met Norma Miller in 1992 while working as a producer associate in Las Vegas and jumped at the chance to help, sorting through interviews, stories, pictures, and other memorabilia that became this book. Jensen lives in Las Vegas where she sells real estate and works as a freelance writer