Announcing the Black Lindy Hoppers Fund

Hella Black Lindy Hop team

The Frankie Manning Foundation has recently announced the formation of the Black Lindy Hoppers Fund whose purpose is to “provide assistance to established and developing dancers, musicians, researchers and community builders endeavoring to be of greater service to community members of African and African diasporic heritage.”

The Black Lindy Hoppers Fund is led by Black members of the lindy hop community, specifically Tena Morales-Armstrong, Julia Loving, Marie N’diaye, and LaTasha Barnes. Here’s how they describe their goals and future work:

Through legacy building exchanges, mentorship facilitation and development, generative residencies, impact focused community building and stewardship we aim to galvanize the cultural core of Lindy Hop and re-center the gaze and presence of the African and African diasporic community towards this phenomenal cultural artifact.

Our Lindy Hop History and Legacy are centered around the accomplishments and impact of our ancestors and elders. The BLHF’s commitment is to learning about our past, living in the present and building foundations for our future. Legacy is fundamental to the Black Lindy Hoppers’ experience.

Our Lindy Hop Legacy Continuum programs are designed to honor and preserve our roots. Programs such as the Swing Dance Museum, oral history projects and the like will allow our roots to build paths and interconnections across time. We are ever so grateful to those organizations and individuals that have contributed to the Black Lindy Hoppers Fund thus far and look forward to future support.

To learn more head to blacklindyhoppersfund.org. And to apply to become a member of the fund, fill out this form.