As part of Dyane Harvey-Salaam’s fall 2020 dance course, “The American Experience and Dance Practices of the African Diaspora,” guest artist Mickey Davidson gives a virtual lecture/workshop on “Authentic Jazz and Swing Dance Practices.”
JOIN THE EVENT
This event is open to Princeton University students, faculty and staff. Visit our Virtual Events Page for the Zoom ID to join this conversation; participants will need to log in to this page with Princeton University ID to gain access.
ACCESSIBILITY
If you are in need of access accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact the Lewis Center at 609-258-5262 or email LewisCenter@princeton.edu at least 2 weeks in advance of the event date.
ABOUT
Photo courtesy Mickey Davidson
MICKEY DAVIDSON’s performing experiences include affiliations with Dianne McIntyre’s “Sounds In Motion Dance Co.”, “Norma Miller’s Lindy Hoppers”, Frankie Manning, Charles “Cookie” Cook, “Savoy Swingers”, “Roots Of Brazil”, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Jeanne Lee, Newman Baker, Frank Owens, Oliver Lake and the Makanda Project to name a few.
Ms Davidson has been affiliated with Lindy Hop since 1985 when she started rehearsing with Norma Miller and her Jazz Dancers. Since Norma’s return to Las Vegas, Mickey has maintained the group under the name “Savoy Swingers”. Not only does the group maintain Ms Miller’s choreography, they perform other diverse jazz styles such as Tap and Modern Jazz in addition to floor and aerial Lindy Hop. Shows presented have been “Swingin’ Sisters”, Swingin’ In Time”, “Great Dancing Ladies” and Swingin’ At the Savoy”. Mickey teaches special Lindy Hop and Lindy related workshops nationally and internationally. Ms Davidson frequently partnered and assisted Lindy Hop legend Frankie Manning in workshops, video (“Everybody’s Dancing”), TV (Swingin’ with Duke, PBS) and during live performances.
Mickey is primary choreographer and director for Mickey D. & Friends, a group of dancers and musicians that explores and performs the interlocking relationship between music and dance. In 1993- 2013 Ms. Davidson took over the leadership for the arts-in-education dance company, “Okra Dance Co.”, this company presents multi-cultural dance programs in the states of N. Y., N.J., Pa., and Ct. Ms Davidson taught Jazz Dance and Tap , as a Visiting Lecturer at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct. for 17 years.
In theatre Ms. Davidson has enjoyed a collaborative relationship with poet/playwright Ms. Ntozake Shange for over six-teen years. Under Ms Shange’s direction Mickey choreographed “For Color Girls Who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Is Enuf”, ”Beneath the Necessity of Talking and “Love Space Demands”. For Oddfellows Playhouse production of “Spunk”, Hartford Theatre Works production of “Paul Robeson”, European Tour of the Broadway production of “Black and Blue” Ms D. sets and maintains the Swing and Blues choreography inherited from Mr. Manning and Jazz Power Initiative’s “Holding the Torch for Liberty” being the latest.
