Leon James was a prominent American Lindy Hop and jazz dancer. A performer during the 1930s and 1940s with the Harlem-based Whitey's Lindy Hoppers, he and his dance partner Willa Mae Ricker were featured in a photo essay in the August 23, 1943, issue of Life magazine, demonstrating air steps.
Leon James | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 27, 1913 New York City |
| Died | July 30, 1970 (aged 57) New York City |
| Occupation | Dancer |
In 1935, James and Edith Matthews won the Harvest Moon Ball.[1]
Due to poor eyesight, James was not drafted during World War II.[2]
During the 1950s and 1960s, James partnered with Al Minns to promote the dances they helped to pioneer, appearing at dance events, in short films, and on TV.
Filmography
edit- A Day at the Races (1937)
- Keep Punching (1939)
- Excerpted and released as the short Jittering Jitterbugs (aka The Big Apple) in 1943
- Cootie Williams and his Orchestra (1942)
- The Spirit Moves (1950)
- Jazz Dance (1954)
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "1935 Harvest Moon Ball Amateur Dance Championships". Sonny Watson's Streetswing. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
- ^ Pritchett, Judy; Manning, Frank. "Leon James". Archives of Early Lindy Hop. Retrieved February 23, 2019.