Queen of Swing Norma Miller speaks to Louise Minchin and Bill Turnbull

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• published: 10 Feb 2015
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Ahead of her appearances at the Hippodrome Leicester Square on Tuesday 10th Feb, and Earl Haig Hall, Crouch End on Wednesday 11th February 2015 organised by http://www.swingpatrol.co.uk, 95 year old dancer, Norma Miller – last surviving member of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers – discusses the beat, Harlem and what makes a good dancer with burgeoning swing dancer, Louise Minchin and Bill Turnbull. Norma Miller, the Harlem, USA dancer who became known as the “Queen Of Swing” and who appeared in the seminal swing dance routines of Hollywood films Hellzapoppin (1941) and the Marx Brothers’ A Day at the Races (1937) will be in London for two days to inspire London’s ever-growing swing dancing community. Discovered in 1931 at just 12 years of age, dancing on the street to the music emanating from Harlem’s famous Savoy Ballroom, Norma Miller’s career has spanned over eight decades. At age 13, after winning a dance competition at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, she was recruited by Herbert “Whitey” White to join Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers – the world’s most renowned professional swing dance troupe. As the last surviving member of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, she alone remains to teach and lecture at dance workshops and conventions around the world. Strictly Come Dancing choreographer Jenny Thomas and BBC Dragons’ Den swing success Scott Cupit – the founder and managing director of Swing Patrol, the UK’s largest swing dance community – will be interviewing Ms Miller live on-stage so attendees can hear her first hand account of the 1930s and 40s heydays for the dance style interchangeably known as “jitterbug”, “swing” and “lindy hop”. Attendees can put questions to Ms Miller directly and may even receive a demonstration from the 95 year old who still performs as a dancer and choreographer, as well as a comedienne and actor. The Hippodrome, Leicester Square – London’s live music, cabaret and dance venue, offering the city’s biggest and best casino (recognised as the Best Casino Operator (Europe) at the International Gaming Awards 2015), as well as a plethora of bars and lounges serving some of the capital’s finest cocktails and an award winning restaurant – will be the first to host the Queen of Swing on Tuesday 10th February. Ms Miller’s appearance is part of Swing Patrol’s regular Tuesday evening event of beginner and intermediate lindy hop lessons lead by Strictly Come Dancing choreographers. Doors open at 6.30pm, with lessons starting from 7.00pm. Tickets start from £10.00. Vintage venue, the Earl Haig Hall at 18 Elder Avenue, Crouch End, London, N8 9TH will host the second of Ms Miller’s London appearances which will follow Swing Patrol’s beginner focused swing dance classes which start at 7pm. Tickets start from £8. Tickets available at: http://www.swingpatrol.co.uk/spevents/norma-miller/ Scott Cupit, the founder and managing director of Swing Patrol said, “Any dance fan – no matter what style – cannot help but be inspired and entertained by the vivacious and outspoken Norma Miller. She is a very creative dancer with her own, often comic, style. She’s also incredibly brave: she had to be to perform the aerial moves in her routines which saw her fly through the air at extreme speed and height. She possesses outstanding senses of both rhythm and humour, which explains her long career in Las Vegas. What’s more, she has literally written the books on swing dancing. Two of her books – Swinging at the Savoy and Swing, Baby Swing! – are key reference materials for the book I’m writing on vintage dance forms.”