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Trickeration by Norma Miller

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Solo Jazz

The Trickeration is a routine choreographed by the late Norma Miller. One of the OG Lindy Hoppers who helped shape this dance into what it is today.

It’s a line dance routine that is known by many Lindy Hoppers around the world. And can be a challenging piece to learn for its complexity of movement and complicated choreography. But it’s a worthwhile learn for any aspiring solo jazz dancer.

The Global Trickeration Project by ILHC

Norma Miller

Norma Miller herself was around during the early days of Lindy Hop. Starting dancing at just 12 years old, and winning the prestigious Harvest Moon Ball at only 16 years of age. She was part of the famous Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers performance troupe and can be seen in many films including A Day at the Races and Hellzapoppin’.

In the 1980s she helped to bring swing dancing to a more international audience, travelling the world to teach and spread her love of the dance. And while she passed in 2018, memory of her remains and her legacy will live on, through the people who danced with her and her ‘Trickeration’ Choreography.

It’s no wonder that she was also named the ‘Queen of Swing’.

Trickeration

A line dance for everyone, there is some supposition that this choreography was used as an audition to get into Norma Miller’s dance troupes. Similar to another routine called ‘The Stops’. But whether there is any truth to that is up for debate.

All we know is that this routine is both challenging and fun and a great dance to pull out on the social floor when you hear a song that gets you going.

Typically, the song is danced to “Jive at Five” by Count Basie. But any cover of the song will do. Letting you practice to both slow and fast tempos.

Below is our take on the Trickeration. On the right is the classic take of the routine. While on the left, is a soft shoe tap remix.

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Charleston with Al Minns and Leon James

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Who are Al and Leon?

Al and Leon are famous Lindy Hop and Jazz dancers who grew to fame in the 1930s and 1940s. While there are lots of videos of them dancing together, they performed with others, including partner dancing in the performance troupe – Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers.

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUG5sRJsGC8[/embedyt]

In the video above you can see Al and Leon doing a short demo of the Charleston dance to the tune ‘Charleston’. It’s a great demo of some of the different styles of Jazz dancing from the 20s to 30s. And there is even a small amount of ‘partner dancing’ for good measure. If you ever get confused you can recognise Al Minns by his high-energy dancing and more athletic shapes. Leon James is a little more smooth and is known for his iconic hand gestures, often flashing his palms.

They would both keep dancing throughout their lives, acting as stewards of the dance form, keeping it alive throughout the years. They teamed up to help Jazz musicologist Marshall Stearns, who was writing a history of Jazz music in the 1960s. Stearns was instrumental in getting them multiple TV appearances as they went on tour together, allowing us to see so many clips of these phenomenal dancers in action! For that, we are forever indebted to Mr Stearns, for his allyship and his ability to open doors when they might have been closed to black dancers. In this clip from Playboy’s Penthouse -Hugh Hefner has his own TV show in the 60s, who knew!- you can see Stearns being interviewed by Hefner whilst Al and Leon dance.

In the early 1980s, Al Minns was instrumental in further spreading the dance around the world. Travelling to Sweden to teach a group of brand new dancers and helping out in New York with the renewed international interest in Swing Dancing.

Leon James passed in 1970 while Al Minns managed to see 1985 before also passing. Their life and contribution to Swing Dancing will forever be remembered.