Media Dancing to Different Rules
They were rebels, they were American, and they dared to be different: the makers of modern dance.
George “Shorty George” Snowden Dancer
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Born
July 4, 1904
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Died
May 1982
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Country
United States of America
Known for his comically intricate footwork, George Snowden reigned as the top dancer at the Savoy Ballroom from its opening in 1927 until the mid-1930s.
His frantic, improvisational dance style brought him immense popularity—as well as the title “King of the Savoy.”
Snowden’s small stature (he was barely five feet tall) was the genesis for that not-too-original moniker, “Shorty George.” His signature move was to bend his knees and swing them from side to side, exaggerating the fact that he was close to the floor. Big-band pioneer Count Basie honored Snowden’s distinctive style of dance with the tune “Shorty George.”
Snowden formed a dance troupe called the “Shorty George Trio,” which performed at the Cotton Club, Smalls’ Paradise, and other music meccas throughout Harlem. Snowden’s sudden leap in professional status inspired other dancers to organize troupes of their own, including Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, the popular group credited to popularizing swing dance in the 1930s.
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Like drummer Chick Webb, he was called the “King of Savoy.” |
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He danced regularly at the Savoy Ballroom, the top dance venue of its time. |
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He is credited with naming and popularizing the Lindy Hop. |
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His dancing sparked the formation of troupes like Herbert White’s Lindy Hoppers. |
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Video Bio
Video Bio
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