Frankie Manning, Dawn Hampton and Chazz Young Wild Week 1995 Swing Dance Reaction Videos | Lindy Hop
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*****Truth and Logic Check*****
There are two questions you must ask when doing anything in Lindy Hop.
1) Why?
2) Based on what standard? (or more bluntly, says who?)
The answer leaves us with only two inescapable choices:
1. 'Lindy Hop is Good'. Therefore we must approach it humbly and respectfully like every other European and South American partner dance. We must add value to what Shorty George Snowden and Mattie Pernell (The originators of Lindy Hop) did without undermining their foundation.
Or for many people today...
2. Shorty George Snowden and Mattie Pernell's creation is bad: and worse, it was intended to be racist, sexist and non-inclusive toward men and women. For this reason we (those who didn't create it) get to appropriate whatever we want with their creation to make us personally happy and punish any person who believes 'Lindy Hop is good'.
This logical conclusion means if we use swing history to justify anything we want to do, and ignore the standard set by Shorty and Mattie (the creators of Lindy Hop), then everyone can do whatever they want with Lindy Hop and no one should be upset about anything. This is circular reasoning and we can't have it both ways.
I believe my ancestors created Lindy Hop to be good, and our participation must therefore be respectful. This means, we should humbly add our creative mark on the genre without destroying the foundation established by Shorty and Mattie. And anyone who deviates from their standard by: elevating any genre of music as the foundation for lindy hopping, elevating role swapping as the standard for following and leading, or demanding change to fundamental aspects of Lindy Hop are all examples of ignoring the founders creation - either inadvertently or maliciously.
No one no matter how influential, who deviates from their standard is exempt from impartial criticism; that's anyone, including the late Frankie Manning and Dawn Hampton who will always receive a measured level of respect from me for the "positive" contributions they added to Shorty and Mattie's creation.
For those of you who are unaware that your actions may indicate the belief that Lindy Hop is bad and you are good - therefore entitled to do whatever you want with it - be logically consistent.
Peace,
Jamin
1995 · 2.7K views
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