Celebrating Swing Dancing and the Savoy Ballroom!

Go behind-the-scenes of today’s Doodle below!

Today’s interactive game Doodle celebrates swing dancing and the Savoy Ballroom—an iconic Swing Era dance hall that thrived from the 1920s to 50s in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood. On this day in 2002, Frankie Manning and Norma Miller, two of members of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, unveiled a commemorative plaque where its entrance once stood.

The Savoy Ballroom made history as one of the first racially integrated public spaces in United States when it opened its doors with a no-discrimination policy in 1926. In the early 20th century, Harlem housed a predominantly Black community, including those who migrated from other parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean. This community’s impact was prevalent throughout Harlem, as the neighborhood thrived as a site for creativity and culture—and the home of the Savoy Ballroom. Albeit a white-owned institution, the Black community of Harlem made the Savoy the cultural heartbeat of the neighborhood and an epicenter of innovation for swing dance and music worldwide.

The Savoy’s ballroom awaited guests up two marble staircases on the second floor, featuring a 10,000-square foot mahogany and maple dance floor that was a city block long. The glamorous dance hall sparkled as a hub of jazz and jive. The Savoy’s twin bandstands hosted seamless live music as many of the world’s acclaimed jazz musicians—including the likes of Chick Webb, Count Basie, and Ella Fitzgerald—trumpeted out the soundtrack for thousands of dancers each night (and over 700,000 annually!). In step with the big band energy, patrons powered the nightclub with the electricity of ever-evolving swing dance styles. The Charleston, the Big Apple, and in later years the Mambo, were among dances enjoyed at the Savoy, but the most popular was the vivacious Lindy Hop, which was born and bred in the ballroom.

The Lindy Hop is characterized by a swinging rhythmic connection between partners, a flurry of acrobatic air steps in the performance version, and footwork that contributed to one of the Savoy’s signature nicknames: “The Home of Happy Feet.” With the synergistic life forces of jazz dance and music, the Savoy Ballroom shined as a melting pot of Harlem nightlife during a time of racial segregation for the next three decades. 

In 1958, the Savoy Ballroom closed its doors for good but its international impact is still felt to this day. At its historic location in between 140th and 141st Street on New York City’s Lenox Avenue, a commemorative plaque honors the Ballroom and its legacy as a home of cultural innovation.

Here’s to all the memories swingin’ at the Savoy!

Early sketches and concepts from the making of the Doodle

Swing Dancing and Savoy Ballroom Doodle Team

Doodle Team 

Art | Nate Swinehart, Kevin Laughlin

Engineering | Conner Lane, Stephanie Gu, Jacob Howcroft, Audrey Lovan and David Lu 

UX Design | Anthony Irwin

Producers | Colin Duffy, Greg Capuano

Marketing | Perla Campos, Sierra Menzies

Business Affairs & Partnerships | Madeline Belliveau

Music Legal Manager | Joy Edgar

Doodle Team Leads | Jessica Yu, Brian Kaas, Tom Tabanao

Thanks to all of our project collaborators!

The Spirit Moves | Eiko Otake, Sally Sommer P.H.D

Dancetime Publications | Yauri Dalencour

Joyce Hansen and Austin Hansen Jr.

Yehoodi | Rik Panganiban

Sugar Sullivan 

And a special thank you to the Frankie Manning Foundation for their work 
preserving the history of the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem, and for their support for this project. 

Music Credits 

Bei Mir Bist Du Schon
Performed by Janis Siegel
Courtesy of Hollywood Records, Inc.

“Bei Mir Bust Du Schoen”
Written by Sammy Cahn, Sholom Secunda
Cahn Music Company/ Williamson Music Company
By arrangement with Concord

“BEI MIR BIST DU SCHON (MEANS THAT YOU'RE GRAND)”
By Jacob Jacobs, Sholom Sholem Secunda, Sammy Cahn, and Saul Chaplin
WC Music Corp. (ASCAP) obo itself and Estate of Sheldon Secunda (ASCAP)

“Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off”
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
Courtesy of Verve Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

“Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off”
from “Shall We Dance”
Words and Music by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin
Copyright © 1937 (Renewed) Nokawi Music (ASCAP) / Frankie G. Songs (ASCAP) /
Ira Gershwin Music (ASCAP)
Nokawi Music administered in the United States by Steve Peter Music (ASCAP).
Frankie G. Songs administered by Downtown Music Publishing.
Ira Gershwin Music administered by WB Music Corp.
Used by Permission. International Copyright Secured.  All Rights Reserved.

“Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off” 
Written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin 
Published by Frankie G. Songs c/o Downtown Music Publishing

“LET'S CALL THE WHOLE THING OFF”
By Ira Gershwin and George Gershwin
Chappell & Co. Inc. (ASCAP) and Warner Geo Met Ric Music (GMR) obo Ira Gershwin Music (GMR)

Careless Whisper feat. Robyn Adele Anderson & Dave Koz
by Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox

“CARELESS WHISPER”
By George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley
WC Music Corp. (ASCAP) obo Warner Chappell MLM Limited (PRS/ASCAP) and
Wham Music Limited (GB 2) (PRS/ASCAP)

“Solid As A Rock”
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
Courtesy of Verve Records under license from Universal Music Enterprises

“SOLID AS A ROCK”
Words by Bob Hilliard Music by Dave Mann
Used with permission from Bourne Co.
www.bournemusic.com
ASCAP

Solid As A Rock
Written by Bob Hilliard and Dave Mann
Courtesy of Better Half Music Company (ASCAP) and RYTVOC, Inc. (ASCAP)