~ Swingin at the Savoy: Book Review ~
by Tam Francis
If you’ve heard the name Norma Miller, you’re probably a Lindy Hopper. The mention of her name in Lindy Hop circles always spark discussion. Read her book, Swingin at the Savoy. You’ll be invited on a journey through a girl’s life in Harlem, her struggle with prejudice and poverty, her success as a dancer, an award choreographer, show producer, stand-up comedian, TV & film actress, and author.
The novel begins with Norma returning to Harlem after many years and many successes. We quickly journey back to when her mother Zalama Baker, landed on Ellis Island. From there the book takes you on a short walk through her mother’s courtship, Norma’s birth and her father’s death. We are dropped off in Harlem on a hot night with little Norma listening to tunes floating up from the Savoy Ballroom. “One of these days I’m gonna go in there and dance the night away.”
It wasn’t too long before Norma was dancing in the Savoy, the Cotton Club, Broadway, Hollywood and the world. The book is filled with vivid descriptions of the Savoy Ballroom.The novel is simply written with an intense and personal perspective peppered with facts and locales long forgotten. Pictures of young Norma, Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, musicians, singers, movie stars and more are scattered throughout the book.
The novel’s highlight is Norma’s reminiscence of dancing with Whitey’s Lindy hoppers:
“Each of Whitey’s dancers was unique and we never copied each others’ steps. That was taboo, dancers were known by the steps they created. There was Snookie Beasley’s famous “Lock Step” in which he swung the girl around and reversed, throwing her weight such that he is able to lean on her with his legs twisted and locked. There was Long George (Greenwich) who, because of his long legs, did his Charleston Split. Of course there was Stompin Billy, who had a way of slapping his foot that brought the house down. Then there was Leon James with his Wobbly Legs that could never be duplicated. These were the things that made each dancer’s Lindy Hop distinct.”
Most dedicated hoppers have spent hours watching the old clips and like Norma says, some of them just can’t be duplicated. The book is rich with reference and description of the dancers.
Miller takes us to Hollywood with her in a visit that is all too short. We spend a brief time on the set of Helzapoppin and Day at the Races. She focuses on the tours and the internal struggles of Whitey’s management style.
“She [Ethel Water] understood the hold that Whitey had over us, and being a compassionate woman, she resented the way he had treated us. She started watching us like a hawk…Miss Waters and Whitey were two old veterans and it was inevitable that the two would lock horns over us. We were her star act, and she didn’t want anyone, including Whitey, mistreating us.”
We get up close with some famous musican/singers like Bob Baily, Joe Williams and John Hendricks. Some inclusion of movie stars, musicians and performers appear almost stuck in as an afterthought. Nonetheless, they are welcome and appreciated. The novel contains many great quotes and I longed for an index to have them at my fingertips. One of my favorites is from Joe Williams, it illustrates Norma’s love of music and dance.
“All over the country wherever you went there were dance halls, and the people went them to dance. The bands played wing music, and it felt so good that the dancers would dance from the first number to the very last note. Really, as a musician you did it as much for the dancing as you did for the music.”
[Swingin at the Savoy by Norma Miller, Evette Jensen, Temple University Press, Copyright 1996].
Vintage Enthusiast Rating:
- Fashion: ♥♥
- Music: ♥♥♥♥
- Dance: ♥♥♥♥♥
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Have you had the pleasure of taking lessons from or dancing with Norma? Did you read her book? What did you think? Do you think this is a must read for all swing dancers?
Tam Francis is a writer, blogger, swing dance teacher, avid vintage collector, and seamstress. She shares her love of this genre through her novels, blog, and short stories. She enjoys hearing from you, sharing ideas, forging friendships, and exchanging guest blogs. For all the Girl in the Jitterbug Dress news, give-aways, events, and excitement, make sure to join her list and like her FB page! Join my list ~ Facebook page Don’t forget to follow my blog (sign-up in sidebar).