The Rhythm Room

It’s time for another Black History Month Spotlight!

Al Minns (January 1920-April 1985) was an American jazz dancer who is most recognized by his performances in films like “Big Apple”, “Hot Chocolates,” “Jazz Dance” and “The Spirit Moves.” Al Minns was one of the original lindy hoppers in the Savoy Ballroom noticed for his incredible innovation, flexibility and energy. Al is considered by many as on the most talented lindy hoppers and won the Harvest Moon Ball in 1938.

During the 1940’s, Minns and Leon James ( Known as the Jazz Dancers) had a comedy act called “Moke and Poke” and even took their act to film. They also developed a novelty act in which they danced together.

*Note: Al is the dancer on the left of the first clip!

Snippets of biography was taken from the World Swing Dance Council’s website.

It’s time for another Black History Month Spotlight!

Al Minns (January 1920-April 1985) was an American jazz dancer who is most recognized by his performances in films like “Big Apple”, “Hot Chocolates,” “Jazz Dance” and “The Spirit Moves.” Al Minns was one of the original lindy hoppers in the Savoy Ballroom noticed for his incredible innovation, flexibility and energy. Al is considered by many as on the most talented lindy hoppers and won the Harvest Moon Ball in 1938.

During the 1940’s, Minns and Leon James ( Known as the Jazz Dancers) had a comedy act called “Moke and Poke” and even took their act to film. They also developed a novelty act in which they danced together.

*Note: Al is the dancer on the left of the first clip!

Snippets of biography was taken from the World Swing Dance Council’s website.

Happy Tuesday! Meet Ruth “Sugar” Sullivan!

Ms. Sugar started dancing in Harlem, NY at the age of 4, where she learned tap, ballet, and took singing lessons. At an early age, Sugar was able to train with tap dancing greats such as James “Buster” Brown and Sylvester Luke. After seeing the 1941 film titled “Hellzapoppin”, which featured Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, she began her journey to study and compete in Lindy Hop.

From there, Sugar began to train in Lindy Hop at the Savoy ballroom and later won the Jitterbug Jive Championships at the Harvest Moon Ball at Maddison square garden in 1955. This opened doors where Miss Sugar was able to perform on the Ed Sullivan’s Show and received numerous performance engagements.

Sugar has been featured with the Harlem Blues and Jazz Band, Cab Calloway’s Hi-De-Ho Orchestra. She has also performed across the USA, as well as Canada with Sonny Allen and the Rockets, where she not only performed the Lindy Hop, but also performed Latin and tap dances.

Today, Ms. Sullivan continues to share her experiences as a dancer and performer to a new generation of dancers around the world in both the Lindy Hop and other urban dance communities. She is a proud mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and consummate artist, and dancer.

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH!

Let’s get to know our first legend this month.

Mama Lu Parks, whose full name was Louise Parks Duncanson, founded her dance group in 1959. The company, which specialized in jitterbug and Lindy Hop dance routines, traveled extensively. On a tour of Africa, the dancers performed for Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Ms. Parks also performed and taught in welfare hotels.

After the New York Daily News stopped hosting the Harvest Moon Ball at Maddison Square Garden, Ms. Parks began to run the amateur HMB Lindy Hop contest in Harlem from 1974-1980.

Ms. Parks, a graduate of Emerson College in Boston, appeared in several films, including ‘’Putney Swope,’’ ‘’Cotton Comes to Harlem,’’ ‘’Come Back Charleston Blue’’ and ‘’When the Spirit Moves.’’

Have you registered for our Winter Workshop with Grace and Ursula?

https://therhythmroomdancestudio.com/product/winter-workshop-with-grace-ursula/