Chazz Young | |
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Born | Charles Young November 8, 1932 |
Occupation(s) |
Choreographer Dancer |
Spouse | Rheda |
Parent | Frankie Manning |
Charles "Chazz" Young [1] (born November 8, 1932) is an American choreographer and teacher of tap dance.
Young was born to father Frankie Manning, a dancer during the swing era, and mother Dorothy Young. [2]
In 1943, at the age of 11, he saw his father, who was a member of Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, perform for the first time. [2]
Young would practice dancing in the hallways during the lunch hour at school, while waiting for the train, and on the marble stoops. [3]
He learned tap dancing at the Mary Bruce School in Harlem, which is where he met his wife, Rheda. [3]
In 1956, he graduated from the New York School for the Performing Arts. [3]
After graduating in 1956, Young and his wife joined Norma Miller and Her Jazzmen, formed by Norma Miller. Young was a member of the group for 14 years. [3] [4]
Young temporarily stopped dancing professionally after rock and roll became popular and clubs stopped hiring him. From the late 1960s through 1994, Young worked in a post office. [3]
In 1992, Young was a dance assistant in Spike Lee's film Malcolm X.
Young has presented at Herräng Dance Camp [5] and has taught at GNSH - Goodnight Sweetheart in the UK (2006 - 2013) and in Malaysia. [6]
Year | Documentary |
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2005 | Swing Invasion |
2010 | Frankie Manning: Ambassador of the Lindy Hop |
2016 | Alive and Kicking |