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Submitted by webmaster on Mon, 12/21/2009 - 10:44
Hellzapoppin' Swing Dance Scene
Posted by robgoldy
July 06, 2006
"Probably the best swing dance scene ever captured on film, this goes off. From the film Hellzapoppin' (1941) - be patient though, the first half is music."
Video Description:
African American domestic staff [?] take an instrumental music and dance break from work.
Contact
Email: jambalayah17@yahoo.com
Copyright © 2010-2011 Azizi Powell; All Rights Reserved
2 comments
There's a lot of comments about race on that thread, and how the Black dancers and musicians weren't in the show because of their race. While this is real, and others can focus on that point, my interest is why in the words of "whitepower" 6900 [and no, I'm not even going to comment on his or her name except to say that I note it] that "it's a shame that people aren't into this anymore".
What I find interesting is that how, why, and when music and dance styles change.
In general, I think that African Americans are more innovative than we are conservative (I don't know whether "conservative" is the right word.I mean it in the sense of respecting, honoring and conserving old styles of talking, dressing, making music, dancing etc.) . I think we (African Americans) are more interested in expanding the box, or going out of the box that Anglo-Americans.
When we create a new slang term or a new dance, or a new music form, we turn our backs on the old one/s. Case in point-blues and jazz.
I know that this is simplistic but I think what I'm saying is true.
-Azizi
http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=R0BHxhUnokU&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3DR0BHxhUnokU%26feature%3Drelated
yly (8 months ago) Absolutely stunning dance moves, as fresh now as they were risque back then. Thanks for posting it. 5 stars all the way.
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APOKOLYPES (8 months ago) my dance coach is taught by a former member of this group, i've been learning from her for 3 years and i still can't even approach this kind of skill jump swing - jive - boogie woogie, is amazing!
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thebigfist (3 months ago) This video features Frankie Manning and Norma Miller.Frankie taught my good buddy how to swing dance in NYC in the early 80`s.The ensemble were known as Whitey`s Lindy Hoppers.
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jleoblues (3 days ago) Thats Slim Gallard and Slam Stewart. Great musicians. Slim Gallard had a hit with "Flat Floogey with the Floy Floy"
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BeHazey (3 months ago) 58 years later an it remains the greatest dance sequence in film.
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BenjaminPaulWoodham (4 months ago) as a swing dancer myself, I can say that's harder than it looked, and it looked hard.
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whitepower6900 (9 months ago) oh my god that was absolutely incredible. it's a shame that people aren't into this anymore.
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phranticsnr (9 months ago) Speak for yourself. I dance Lindy Hop.
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whitepower6900 (9 months ago) i mean as a whole it really isn't around anymore like it used to be. i wish i could do it.