Join us for a special evening honoring the 100th Anniversary of the legendary Savoy Ballroom — Harlem’s iconic “Home of Happy Feet” and the birthplace of the Lindy Hop.
This dynamic program brings together living legends, historians, and amazing dancers to celebrate the enduring legacy of the Savoy and the cultural movement it sparked.
Curated and hosted by Sekou McMiller
Event Highlights
Conversation with Savoy Legend Sonny Allen
A dance legend of the Savoy and Palladium ballrooms, Sonny Allen is one of the last surviving interpreters of the original Savoy style of swing. Across a career spanning more than six decades, he has mastered mambo, swing, foxtrot, and tap — developing a smooth, sophisticated style uniquely his own. A dancer, drummer, singer, and cultural philosopher, Allen grew up in 1930s Harlem after his family emigrated from Barbados, immersed in the music and movement that defined an era.
Historical Presentation by Julia Loving
Educator, dancer, and community organizer, Julia Loving has dedicated her career to preserving and promoting Lindy Hop and Africana history. A longtime New York City public school educator, she serves on the boards of the Frankie Manning Foundation and the Black Lindy Hoppers Fund. As co-founder of SwingWithUsNYC, she creates inclusive Harlem-based dance spaces that honor and uplift the Black roots of swing.
Special Lindy Hop Performance by Samuel Coleman & Candice Michelle Franklin (“Sammy & Candy”)
This electrifying duo blends deep historical knowledge with vibrant contemporary energy. Meeting as students at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, the two artists combined forces during the pandemic and quickly became a celebrated Lindy Hop team. Their work traces jazz dance’s vernacular lineage — from early Black social dance traditions to swing, house, hip hop, and beyond. They have performed with Jazz Ain’t Dead, The Gotham Kings, and Gatsby Entertainment, and at venues including Lincoln Center’s Summer for the City, Dizzy’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Cotton Club, and Marcus Garvey Park.
About the Savoy Ballroom
From 1926 to 1958, the Savoy Ballroom stood at 596 Lenox Avenue as one of the first racially integrated public spaces in the United States. Its 10,000-square-foot, spring-loaded dance floor welcomed thousands nightly and launched a global dance phenomenon. The Savoy hosted legendary artists including Chick Webb, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie, cementing its place at the heart of Harlem’s cultural history.
Celebrate 100 years of rhythm, resilience and swing at the National Jazz Museum in Harlem — and experience the living legacy of the Savoy.
Additional Savoy Centennial programming is presented throughout 2026 by partners Jazzmobile, Harlem Swing Dance Society, Community Works
We are your go-to venue for off-site meetings, receptions, film screenings, workshops, networking events, socials and more. Located in the heart of Central Harlem’s thriving culinary and entertainment district, The National Jazz Museum in Harlem is the perfect place to hold your next gathering.
