The Tranky Doo Review
We hope that you enjoyed your time learning this 1940s jazz routine, commonly performed at Swing dances throughout the world. Below you will find video, links to videos and texts that will reinforce what you already know and help continue your Tranky Doo journey.
Fall Off the Log
Frankie Manning, the Ambassador of Lindy Hop and the dance's most important person, claimed to have created the original Tranky Doo routine in the post-war 1940s, while leading his troupe, The Congaroos.
The version that is most often performed is longer and a little different than the original, having been passed through the hands of a few Swing & Jazz choreographers over the years.
As usual, the best place to learn more about the history of this dance (and just about anything in the Vintage Swing dance world) can be found at dancer Bobby White's blog, Swungover: The Mysterious History of the Tranky Doo.
The version that is most often performed is longer and a little different than the original, having been passed through the hands of a few Swing & Jazz choreographers over the years.
As usual, the best place to learn more about the history of this dance (and just about anything in the Vintage Swing dance world) can be found at dancer Bobby White's blog, Swungover: The Mysterious History of the Tranky Doo.
The Dipsy Doodle
In the late 1930s, a Russian immigrant named Mura Dehn arrived in New York and was astounded by the energy and joy that emanated from the social dancers in Harlem. She spent the better part of 50 years recording Harlem-based dancers, eventually releasing: The Spirit Moves: A History of Black Social Dance on Film, 1900-1986. This film preserved the style and flair of some of the best vernacular jazz dancers of the 30s-50s, including Frankie Manning, Al Minns, Willa Mae Ricker, and Pepsi Bethel. The clip below is one of the only recordings of the Tranky Doo from "back in the day", and features Al Minns, Leons James, and Pespi Bethel. This clip is also the reason why many dancers use the song "The Dipsy Doodle," even though that song was dubbed over, and not the one the dancers performed to here.
Rocks
The fun dancers at TripleStep Tanzkurse have put together a great video of the Tranky Doo routine, with the steps displayed on the screen. It's a great opportunity to brush up or drill your routine.
Mess Around
So, maybe you need a little more of a brush-up than you thought. You can hardly do better than reviewing your steps with Laura Glaess. If you found this helpful, consider joining Laura's Patreon and letting her know.
boogie Backs
Below is an outstanding PDF that breaks down the Tranky Doo choreography for both the "Chant of the Groove" & "The Dipsy Doodle". This is a great resource for those looking for a list of steps.
| Tranky Doo Breakdown |
Chant of the Doodle
Do you do the Doo to Dipsy Doodle, or do you prefer the AABA structure of a song like Chant of the Groove. Either way, practice your routine to the variety of songs on this playlist and you'll be set no matter what the DJ spins.
AppleJacks
Finally, let the joy of the Tranky Doo wash over you, as you watch the brilliant dancers from Spain's Black Bottom Valencia perform.