There's an old saying about "first impressions" being the most important. I've always thought they are so valuable in that at the first encounter one person sees another in their totality. Once you get to know someone you relate to this or that aspect of them that interests you the most, so you less the former whole picture less and less. If true, it means that "first impressions" can tell us a lot depending on how accurate the recollections of such moments really are. Such memories are also important as we have all read many claims as to who "discovered" who, and we need to get these things right. The main reason for this is the need to understand the process of cultural transmission. How are these kinds of specialised legacies passed on, and do the recipients get to understand the complexities of what they are involved in? It's about a lot more than just learning a few steps!

Whilst one or two people have embarked upon attempts to collect such accounts no-one has come up with anything really comprehensive yet. Hopefully this attempt will get there and that many of the new Lindy Hop enthusiasts will share with the rest of us how they met their 'mentors' or just encountered surviving 'elders' of the great days of swing, especially those who frequented the Savoy. In some cases there will be many people who "met" the same original Lindy Hopper, but that doesn't matter. In fact it could be quite interesting to see the different impressions the same person made.

To start the ball rolling here is an account of how the Jiving Lindy Hoppers first met Frankie Manning. More accounts of meeting other original dancers are in the process of being written right now!

The JLH meets Frankie Manning.