A List of Frankie Manning's Favorite Steps

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A List of Frankie Manning’s Favorite Steps

Initially Compiled by Laura Jeffers, Edited by Rik Panganiban, April 2016

With Frankie Manning’s birthday coming up, some of us in San Francisco thought it would be helpful if we all had a list of “iconic” Frankie Manning steps, for use in teaching about Frankie and choreographing performances in his honor. Surprisingly, such a list does not seem to exist.

After all, while very few of us might be able to perform “Hellzapoppin,” we can all Peck, Messaround and Slip Slop in Frankie’s honor for his birthday!

Laura Jeffers is the director of the Big Apple Lindy Hoppers, the New York City-based performance troupe co-founded by Frankie Manning. Laura trained for many years under Frankie Manning, and continues to share and teach his choreography and steps. Laura put together this list of Frankie Manning favorite steps, e.g. not steps that Frankie invented (although he did invent some of them), but ones that he performed, taught and choreographed often. Laura has also helpfully including video links for some of the steps that might be unfamiliar to some.

This list is not meant to be exhaustive but a work-in-progress. Please use this as a starting point for teaching about Frankie Manning, creating new choreographies inspired by him, and sharing his legacy wherever you are. Feel free share widely and to provide us feedback and suggestions on the Google doc version of this, via Twitter, Facebook, or email news@yehoodi.com.

 

Partnered Steps

  • Around the World
  • Choo Choo (video link )
  • Jig Walk
  • Mess Around
  • Mini-dip
  • Pecks
  • Quick Stop
  • Quick Turn (video link)
  • Sailor Kicks
  • Skates
  • Slip-slop
  • Stop Reverse
  • Texas Tommy
  • Twirls and Points (video link)
  • Windmill (video link)

Swingout Variations

  • Chasse
  • Crossover
  • Heel Step
  • Kick Away
  • Scissor Step (video link )
  • Sweep and Shake

Jazz Steps

  • Apple Jacks
  • Boogie Back
  • Boogie Forward
  • Charlie Chaplin
  • Chase
  • Drop Boogie
  • Eagle Slide (sometimes called Eddie Eagle, video )
  • Fall Off the Log
  • Fishtail
  • Gaze Afar
  • Hitch Hike
  • Itches
  • Knee Slap
  • Ride the Pony
  • Scare Crow
  • Shorty George
  • Sis-kaboom-bah
  • Skip Up
  • Spank the Baby
  • Stomp Off
  • Suzie Q
  • Tacky Annie
  • Tap Break

Charleston Variations

  • Crossover
  • Flying Charleston
  • Front to Back
  • Hand to Hand
  • Jump Charleston
  • Side by Side
  • Squat Charleston
  • Turnover (video link)

Aerials and Tricks

  • Around the Back
  • Hand Spring (aka the Pancake)
  • Knickerbocker
  • Over the Back
  • Over the Shoulder (video link)
  • Russian Kick
  • Shoot Through (video link)
  • Side Lift
  • Side Flip (video link)
  • The Snatch
  • Toss Out

Thanks so much, Laura, for compiling this list for the lindy hop community!