Skip to main content

The Kennedy Center Honors: Why Nominate Norma? Lets see...



Few are privileged to be alive today to tell first hand of the Harlem Renaissance era of the 1920’s… and that they were notably able to impact Jazz Dance History in Harlem for over 80 years…
But then there is Norma Miller: Dancer, Author, Choreographer, Comedienne and Actress whose career spans over eight decades! A foremost proponent of the “Lindy Hop;” she is rightfully known as the “Queen of Swing”. Her vitality, humor, generosity, humanitarian efforts and indomitable spirit make her – at 97 years young – a true American Treasure.


At five years old in 1924 Norma knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life: Dance. It was the Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance - and little Norma lived behind Harlem's famed Savoy Ballroom, nicknamed the "Home of Happy Feet". At 14 she won a Lindy Hop contest at the Apollo theater… and before long the feisty Norma would rise to fame as one of the first performers of the Lindy Hop as an original member of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers.
From the age of 14 till now Norma Miller’s repertoire includes giving of her time and inspiring the masses through world tours, films, memoirs, teaching and her love of dance. She has been honored with numerous awards for her pioneering efforts and excellence.

BUT there is one more award that would put Norma in front of a prime time audience of millions and put the Queen in her in the forefront here in the US once more...
The Kennedy Center Honors is an annual honor given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture. Wouldn’t you like to see this phenomenal woman honored and revered by receiving the Kennedy Honor?
Sign this petition and share this info to have the Queen of Swing Norma Miller honored in 2018! 
Email and show your support!  
Do this at membership@kennedy-center.org and tell them why the Queen deserves this honor                                         

Yes it’s Miller Time! 

A Future Chit Chat with Norma 
will be out later this month

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

In Remembrance of Ruby Reeves

Ruby Reeves went to Smalls Paradise in the 1980s and  witnessed the transition of social dancing going from uptown to downtown. She knew Mama Lu Parks and many of  the regular Monday night Harlem crowd that listened and danced to Al Cobbs Band. She performed professionally doing the Tranky Doo (or her version  the Cranky Doodle").   It has been stated but not confirmed that she was also part of the 1982 famous Harvest Moon Ball dance competition.  But b ack in 1988 when a tribute was given to Mama Lu ( Tapping Through an Evening in Honor of Mama Lu Parks )   she was in grand company  https://www.nytimes.com/1988/12/29/arts/review-dance-tapping-through-an-evening-in-honor-of-mama-lu-parks.html Naturally she saw and experienced the "exodus" of Harlem's dance traveling from uptown to downtown. And uptown folk seemingly going with the flow because - in her words - "we weren't doing anything in our community".  Thus part of the sad rea

Did Lindy Hop Really Die? I mean REALLY..... What the Fudge! "Alive and Kicking" - Part 3

Lindy Hop Died?  Find the tombstone please... Don't get me wrong here - I love the film Alive and Kicking and what it offers as a glimpse of whats happening now.  Do I like everything in there as far as whats stated?  Nope but that doesn't take away from the film. For me this is still a lively, exciting telling film that is riveting!  Its a scene that all can learn from.  How someone could say it "fell flat" is beyond me!                                                                         This was a statement made to me after the Harlem Q & A Talkback.  I was supposed to "take a more forceful position"....be stronger in "my stand" - stronger or forceful about what?  That was my second time seeing the film and I learned a bit more (despite the enthusiasm/noise of the audience).  As stated in Part One of this series sound bites can be tricky.... but nothing I said in the film was twisted or slanted. (Though at one point I

The Call of the Jitterbug Kids!

Dominick Robinson, Matthew Cherrington, Jessica Hand, Coral Foxworth, Kelly Robinson and Matthew Hunt "I've never heard of them!" people retort.  Well you missed out to a degree but they were part of Harlem's 20th century Lindy Hop story... perhaps rightfully so the 5th generation to keep the culture going  :>) The  Jitterbug  Kids were founded in 2001/2002 and were a group of 8...ranging in the ages of 7 to 10 years old. They were a fixture in Harlem and in NYC, performing at public and private events. Sarina Robinson started the group one year after she was inspired to start taking Lindy Hop/Swing Dance classes.  Having a Dance Studio helped as she gathered this group of children and trained them at dance workshops for one year. Then they were off! While they have grown up to be young ladies and gents they influenced many and got the attention of young and old alike.  These exciting and fun memories and groundwork that was established never