It is a sad to know that so many talented, special people have gone. However their lives will always live on through the memories of those who lived by them, read about them, and emulate the dance they created. Their achievements bespeak their importance to our everyday lives in that they truly helped create and sustain a dance form as unique as the Lindy Hop. Here, we highlight a range of exceptional people that helped Lindy Hop thrive, both past and present, who are true "Lindy Hop Activists."
Latest Post by Terry Monaghan
2007
Eleanore "Stumpy" Watson
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Walter Nicks
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Alex Ramero
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This year saw the departure of Eleanore (“Stumpy” to the members of Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers and “Grandma” to her family and close friends) Watson, who passed away in May surrounded by family and friends in NC. Dancing in the film “Radio City Revels” she made a feisty impression for such a short person, especially when dancing with her main partner “Long George”.
Walter Nicks also passed away in 2007. Although primarily an utterly extraordinary “Modern” dancer, as a featured dancer with the Benny Goodman Orchestra and partnered by the ex-Dunham trained Francis Taylor, he embarked on a major campaign to give a boost to partner dancing with a new variation called the “bop-hop” after World War 2. Walter had been sick for quite some time, but before that he was always out there supporting all kinds of dance performance in New York City and always ready for a long intense discussion about any aspect you cared to raise.
Another seemingly unlikely contender was Alex Romero, who left us in September. Alex was important for two reasons. As a member of the Jack Cole dancers he Lindy Hopped on occasions with Jewell McGowen when she tried developing her own dance career independently of Dean Collins. He spoke movingly about Jewell, who he came across working in a jewellery shop shortly before she died. Alex’s main claim to fame involved choreographing the “Jailhouse Rock” sequence which really launched Elvis as an international star and got hips gyrating all round the world.