Swing on the Beach - The italian "Swing Craze" Festival

05/04/2026

While waiting for the SWING CRAZE Festival on November 27-29, enjoy some history with Norma Miller's Easter in 1932🤩

Hep happy Easter!😁

12/03/2026

While waiting for the SWING CRAZE Festival on November 27-29... enjoy the reading🤗

While waiting for the "Swing Craze" Festival on November 27-29, enjoy some history with the 100th anniversary of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, NYC 🤩

From Norma Miller's biography "Swingin' at the Savoy":
"The real upsurge in Harlem night life was triggered by the opening, on march 12,1926, of Harlem's most elegant ballroom - the Savoy.
The Savoy was built for black patrons; there was no separate entrance for whites, there were no balconies where the white customers would watch the blacks perform. The opening of the Savoy marked a change in the social pattern. For the first time in history, the status quo in America was challenged. At last there was a beautiful ballroom with no segregation. Black people and white people danced on the same floor, they sat and ate across from one another in the booths; everyone's money was the same at the Savoy."

The Savoy Ballroom was a large ballroom for music and public dancing located at 596 Lenox Avenue, between 140th and 141st Streets in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
Lenox Avenue was the main thoroughfare through upper Harlem. The Savoy was one of many Harlem hot spots along Lenox, but it was the one to be called the "World's Finest Ballroom". Downtown it was known as "the Home of Happy Feet", but in Harlem, as "the Track".
The north-east corner of the dance floor, the "Cat's Corner", was reserved for the most gifted dancers.
The ballroom was on the second floor and took up an entire block. It had a double bandstand that held one large and one medium-sized band running against its east wall. Music was continuous as the alternative band was always in position and ready to pick up the beat when the previous one had completed its set.
The Savoy grand opening on March 12, 1926, featured the two house bands - the Charleston Bearcats (shortly to be re-named the Savoy Bearcats) and Fess Williams's Royal Flush Orchestra - plus Fletcher Henderson (Himself) and his Roseland Orchestra.
Fletcher Henderson, thanks to his own work and with the collaboration of Don Redman before and Benny Carter after, was the one who inaugurated the path for the big bands. It is to him that we owe that way of arranging and performing songs for big bands that took a storm at the end of the 30s. The first great example is found in his first, 1928, of many renditions of the song "King Porter Stomp" by Jerry Roll Morton, the same song that from 1935 became one of the most representative of a white orchestra, that of Benny Goodman.
That way of playing Jazz, combined with its natural choreography called Lindy Hop, led to the worldwide explosion of what was called "Swing Craze".
The Savoy was unique in having the constant presence of a skilled elite of the best Lindy Hoppers, known as "Savoy Lindy Hoppers". Occasionally, groups of dancers such Whitey's Lindy Hoppers turned professional and performed in Broadway and Hollywood productions.
The Savoy was the site of many a famous "Battle of the Bands" or "Cutting Contest", which started when the Benny Goodman Orchestra challenged Chick Webb in 1937. Webb and his band were declared the winners of that contest. In 1938, Webb was once again challenged by Count Basie Band. While Webb was officially declared the winner again, there was a lack of consensus on who actually won that night.
"Stompin' at the Savoy", a 1934 song recorded by Chick Webb, was named after the ballroom.
Chick Webb was the leader of the best known Savoy house band during the mid-1930s. A teenage Ella Fitzgerald, fresh from a talent show win at the Apollo Theater in 1934, became its vocalist.
Other prominent Savoy house bandleaders included Savoy Sultans ("Jumpin' at the Savoy"), Erskine Hawkins, Lucky Millinder ("Savoy"), Buddy Johnson, Teddy Hill, Willie Bryant, Claude Hopkins and Cootie Williams .
The Savoy participated in the 1939 New York World's Fair, presenting "The Evolution of Negro Dance".
On 26 May 2002, Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, unveiled a commemorative plaque for the Savoy Ballroom on Lenox Avenue between 140th and 141st Streets.

Hep hep! 😎

12/12/2025

DAYS 1-2-3 💓
Save the dates for the 2026 Swing Craze Festival (November 27-29) and enjoy photos of the History & Culture "Ri-educational channel" throughout the weekend as well as the closing act with the "Pajama party" at the SWING CRAZE Festival😁

🎤Talks: Felix Lambert, Barbara Bronx, Chester A. Whitmore, Maurizio Big Daddy🎤
🎬Documentaries: “Queen of Swing” about Norma Miller by Dreamtime Entertainment and “Wham Re-Bop-Boom-Bam” about Eddie Durham Jazz Swing Composer by Chiaroscuro Records🎬
📖Books: “Watch Your Step” series by Felix Lambert, “Swingin’ the Blues" series by Topsy Durham Mgmt, "Swing Baby, Swing!" by Norma Miller📖
🔥"Savoy Ballroom - 400 Club" original jacket by The Harlem Swing Dance Society🔥

Pics by MasterGraphics Photography

📌 www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"

Hep hep!😎

💥 Feel free to tag yourself on the pictures💥

10/12/2025

DAY2 - pt.2🤩
Save the dates of the "Swing Craze" Festival 2026 (November 27-29) and enjoy the pictures of Day 2 - 2 pt. of the SWING CRAZE Festival:
"Solo Jazz" competitors & winners, "Strictly Lindy-Advanced" competitors & winners, "Jam session" with BILLY BROS. Swing Orchestra & Shirt Tail Stompers, social dancing and Swing faces😉

Pics by MasterGraphics Photography

www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"

Hep hep! 😎

📌 Feel free to tag yourself on the pictures

08/12/2025

DAY2 - pt.1🤩
Save the dates of the "Swing Craze" Festival 2026 (November 27-29) and enjoy the pictures of Day 2 - 1st pt. of the SWING CRAZE Festival:
BILLY BROS. Swing Orchestra & special guests Sara Vianello & Chester Whitmore; Shirt Tail Stompers, teachers presentation, Chester Whitmore's birthday toast, social dancing and Swing faces😉

Pics by MasterGraphics Photography

www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"

Hep hep! 😎

📌 Feel free to tag yourself on the pictures

07/12/2025

DAY 1 - pt.2 😍
While waiting for the "Swing Craze" Festival 2026 (November 27-29), enjoy the 2nd part of the pictures of the 1st day of the SWING CRAZE Festival on the 28th of November: Shirt Tail Stompers, social dancing and Swing faces 😉

Pics by MasterGraphics Photography

www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"

Hep hep!😎

📌 Feel free to tag yourself on the pictures🤗

05/12/2025

DAY 1 - pt.1🥰
While waiting for the "Swing Craze" Festival 2026 (November 27-29), enjoy the 1st part of the pictures of the 1st day of the Festival on the 28th of November (Swing faces, opening night, social dancing, teachers presentation, BILLY BROS. Swing Orchestra, J&J competitors).

Pics by MasterGraphics Photography
www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"

Hep hep!😎


📌Please feel free to tag yourself on the pictures😉

04/12/2025

Thank you , thank you, thank you!!🥰
The SWING CRAZE Festival has been a 3 day of full joy, from dusk till dawn, a helluva week-end with an artistic line-up outta this world; the best tribute ever to the Swing Craze, highlighting Miss Norma Miller, Eddie Durham, Harlem, music and dances of the Savoy Ballroom😍
Above all, an unbeatable warm and familiar atmosphere created by attendees, artists, guests, competitors, dancers, technicians and hosts made the place an happy island spreading hope for a better future🙏

Here’s WHO's who at the 2025 SWING CRAZE Festival🏴‍☠️:
💃🕺Teachers:
Chester A. Whitmore, Moe Sakan & Andreas Olsson, Katja Završnik & Nejc Zupan, Gosia Aniolkowska & Matteo De Stefano, William Pisani & Alice Faraone, Dimitri & Alexsia, Eleonora Santoro & Marco Guglielmino, Sara Vianello💃🕺
☯️Special guests: Paulette Brockington, Barbara Bronx, Felix Lambert☯️
🎺Bands: Shirt Tail Stompers, BILLY BROS. Swing Orchestra🎷
🎧DJs: Sergio DjSerj, Alecs Curti, Barbara Bronx, Mirko Dr. Jitterbug 🎧
🎤MCs: Naturally Ginger Sara Vianello, Mr.DiP🎤
************
Here's WHAT happened at the SWING CRAZE Festival🏴‍☠️:
🏆The Swing Craze Cup & the The American Lindy Hop Championships 🏆
-📌 "Strictly Lindy - Advanced" prizes: “Swing Break” (Slovenia), Taranto Swing Festival, Salamina Swing & Roll” (Greece);
-📌 "Solo Jazz – Savoy Ballroom" prizes: “Swing Craze Festival”, “All in One”, “Swing in Spring”;
-📌 "Jack & Jill - Advanced" prizes: Sicilian SwingAge Festival, Italian All Stars Swing Festival, Swing Dance Flight;
-📌 "Jack & Jill - Open" prizes: LISA (Croatia), Lecce Swing Festival, Swing on the Beach jackets;
🍾🥂🕺 Chester A. Whitmore's birthday party🍾🥂🕺
👕👖 "Pajamas party" on Sunday night👕👖;
🍾🥂❤️‍🔥 Norma Miller's 106th anniversary🍾🥂❤️‍🔥
🎤Talks: Felix Lambert, Barbara Bronx, Chester Whitmore, Maurizio Big Daddy🎤
🎬Documentaries: “Queen of Swing” about Norma Miller by Dreamtime Entertainment and “Wham Re-Bop-Boom-Bam” about Eddie Durham Jazz Swing Composer by Chiaroscuro Records🎬
📖Books: “Watch Your Step” series by Felix Lambert, “Swingin’ the Blues" series by Topsy Durham Mgmt, "Swing Baby, Swing!" by Norma Miller📖
💥"Savoy Ballroom - 400 Club" original jacket by The Harlem Swing Dance Society;
************
Here's HOW we make it happen at the SWING CRAZE Festival🏴‍☠️:
📌Vendors: Italian Swing Dance Academy, Le Cose di Cosetta, MilleLire, Trizzi d’amuri;
🔥Audio & lighting: ObiettivoSuono, Lorenzo e Oreste;
📌Venue: Grand Hotel Adriatico;
🔥Sponsors: Fondazione Pescarabruzzo, CSEN, Grand Hotel Adriatico;
💥Photo by MasterGraphics Photography;
🎥Video Piero Crivelli;
❤️Staff: Elisabetta, Rebecca e Tiziana.
************
☺️Please tag yourself on the pictures we will post during the week and 📌SAVE THE DATE for the next "Swing Craze" Festival:
🤩November 27-29, 2026🤩

www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"
**************************
The SWING CRAZE Festival is managed by the Italian Swing Dance Academy

Hep hep!😎

02/12/2025

Swing Craze Cup, Swing Craze Festival 2025🤗
Winners and prizes of "Strictly Lindy Advanced", "Solo Jazz-Savoy Ballroom", Jack & Jill Advanced" and "Jack & Jill Open".
Feel free to tag yourselves.

www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"
**************************
The SWING CRAZE Festival is managed by the Swing Dance Academy

Pics by MasterGraphics Photography
Hep hep!😎

01/12/2025

Such a great event! 🥰🥰🥰
Thanks everyone and see you in 2026 (save the date) for the next helluva "SWING CRAZE" Festival!!🏴‍☠️

📌 www.swingcrazefestival.com
"Looking ahead by honoring the elders"
**************************
The SWING CRAZE Festival is managed by the Italian Swing Dance Academy
Hep hep!😎