Stompin’ at the Savoy DNY Midterm Study Guide – Fall 2004
20 Multiple Choice questions; two short essay questions
You may be asked questions related to the following themes:
1. African American roots of lindy hop
2. Research techniques
3. How Norma Miller’s life intersects with themes of the Harlem Renaissance
Swingin’ at the Savoy: The Memoir of a Jazz Dancer
Study Notes, Chapters 1-9
Coming Home
 Norma visits NYC again after many years living in Las Vegas.
Coming to America/Norman Miller
 Story of Norma’s mother coming to America (Brooklyn) as an immigrant from Barbados looking
for opportunity. Discusses circumstances into which she was born.
The Early Years
 Norma was born with a lot of strikes against her (poverty, no father, etc.).
 1920: Harlem saw the arrival of black people from the South in droves – why? (for a better life, to
escape poverty, lynchings, mistreatment by whites, failing crops, unfair criminal systems – “The
Great Migration” – they sought higher wages, better homes, and political rights). To a lesser
degree, there were a number of immigrants to Brooklyn from the West Indies – and many ended
up moving to Harlem.
 “Rent parties” – charge admission to pay rent – common way of coping with poverty
 Norma’s mother passionate about black rights, opportunity and equality. Was a supporter of
Marcus Garvey’s black nationalistic ideas and “Back to Africa” plan.
 Norma shows a passion for dance and starts dance classes. She lives across the street from the
Cotton Club, the most popular night club in United States’ history.
 Popular dances at the time included the Charleston, the Black Bottom, the Shimmy, and the Shim
Sham.
The Savoy
 1929: The Great Depression – poverty worsens.
 Norma moves across the street from the Savoy.
 Savoy history – 1926: The Savoy opens during Prohibition, but Prohibition wasn’t really being
enforced locally – nightclubs were coming back (most popular in 1926: the Cotton Club, Small’s
Paradise and Connie’s Inn).
 Harlem was becoming the entertainment capital of the world – at night, Society came to Harlem –
they called it slumming. All the flappers flocked to Harlem. The above clubs were often filled
with white clientele who came to see entirely black entertainment.
 White people owned Harlem – money flowed uptown from downtown.







Savoy – first integrated ballroom – great for business/entertainment industry.
Savoy a classy place. The best dancers dance in a corner of the ballroom called “Cat’s Corner.”
Many bands and musicians got big at the Savoy (Chick Webb, Fletcher Henderson, Ella Fitzgerald,
etc.).
During Depression, blacks were first fired and last hired. Companies kept whites only or fired
blacks to give whites jobs.
Millers utilized church assistance. Alma became a supporter of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., an
activist for black rights.
Black doctors fired to hire white doctors example at Harlem Hospital. Protest planned by Powell
very well attended.
Norma is picked by Twist Mouth George to dance in contest. She is 11 or 12. Best moment of her
life.
Coming of Age
 Norma transfers to a junior high school with a good music program.
 Norma first dances the lindy at the Renaissance Ballroom.
 Norma and her friends practice the lindy at the “Renny” for several years. She meets a number of
young children that she will end up performing with years later.
 Norma learns of dance contests all over Harlem and wins a contest at the Apollo.
 Herbert “Whitey” White seeks out Norma and invites her to dance at the Savoy. Whitey is a
powerful, persuasive man.
 Leonard Reed recruits Norma to be a chorus girl. After less than a week of practice, the truancy
officer brings her home.
 At age 15, Norma is so occupied with dancing (in the sheltered atmosphere of the Savoy) and her
classes at school that she barely notices that the Harlem Riot of 1935 happens. A Puerto Rican
boy is caught stealing in a five-and-dime store and is supposedly beaten by the white store owner.
This ignites a riot in the poverty-stricken community tired of racial discrimination. Adam Clayton
Powell, Jr. takes a survey and finds that Harlem is owned by whites. He surveys nearly 5000
people working on 125th Street and finds that only 93 of them were black and all were doing
menial labor. Savoy damaged in the riot and closes for repairs. Legislation by Mayor La Guardia
– says that all claims of racial discrimination subject to legal investigation and scrutiny.
 To raise Savoy community morale, Whitey decides to enter his lindy team in the Harvest Moon
Ball, a famous 5-borough ballroom dance contest. The lindy has never been judged by ballroom
standards before. Nobody knows what to expect.
 Norma joins Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, a hard-driven, hard-working, cutting-edge lindy hop
performance troupe under the strict direction of Whitey.
A Man Called Whitey
 Back in 1927: the “Hop” pioneered by “Shorty George” Snowden and Twist Mouth George.
 May 1927 – Charles Lindbergh flight across the Atlantic – Shorty George names the hop “Lindy
Hop.” Lindy very fast, very exciting!
 Two eight-count lindy steps matched up perfectly with one four-measure jazz phrase; both
involved the repetition of basic patterns that were never executed the same way twice. The lindy,
therefore, could evolve with the music and utilize improvisation.
 White becomes floor manager at the Savoy. He is already powerful and leads a gang of thugs
called the Jolly Fellows.

Whitey builds a group of dancers (Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers). Wants all of his dancers to be the
absolute best. Wants all the money and power. Persuasive and intimidating. Knows how to get
what he wants. Becomes a father figure of sorts to Norma.
The Harvest Moon Ball
 Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, including Norma, win the Harvest Moon Ball in 1935. It is the only allAmerican dance in the contest. Dancers dance on stage one pair after another – in consecutive
pairs.
The Swingin’ Generation
 City Government discriminates against Harlem, and it affects the Savoy. Mayor La Guardia tries
to keep the money from flowing uptown, and the dissatisfaction of Harlem being New York City’s
playground increases.
 They try to accuse the Savoy of engaging in prostitution. Already-existing rules on the staff are
tightened.
 Interracial relationships discouraged (like Billy and Melissa) – why? (Because of sociopolitical
reasons related to power and money. For example, Whitey suspects that Melissa’s father is a
powerful figure in NYC and possibly played a part in threatening to shut down the Savoy after
learning that his daughter goes there).
 Whitey arranges an 8-month tour of Europe; Norma goes. (Frankie Manning cannot be convinced
to go.) The bands for the most part are not good, and audiences don’t always give the desired
reactions.
 When she returns, lindy hop has changed. Frankie Manning and the other dancers are doing group
routines!
 While Whitey and his Europe group were gone, Frankie and partner Frieda incorporated the first
air step or “aerial” into lindy hop. Whitey loves it, and Frankie is deemed the genius behind the
change (to this day!).
 Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers stop the show at the Cotton Club, and politics ensue. They are out of the
show supposedly because the management doesn’t want anyone from outside of the Cotton Club
to stop the show. Whitey convinces the club to rehire them.
 Battle of the bands at the Savoy – major competition between Chick Webb and Count Basie.
 Due to misunderstanding, drummer Chick Webb says that he “doesn’t need” lindy hoppers.
Whitey thinks he does and proves his point by temporarily boycotting Cat’s Corner. Interaction
between the dancers and Chick Webb orchestra a huge part of the evolution of both lindy hop and
swing music.
 Ella Fitzgerald begins to sing with the Chick Webb orchestra and continues after he dies.