Leon James (dancer)
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 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 | 4-27-1913 NYC |
| Died | 7-30-1970 NYC |
| Occupation | Dancer |
In 1935, Leon James and Edith Matthews won the Harvest Moon Ball.[1]
Due to poor eyesight, James wasn't drafted during World War II.[2]
During the 1950s and '60s, Leon James partnered with Al Minns to promote the dances they helped to pioneer, appearing at dance events, in short films and on TV.
Filmography
- 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
References
- "1935 Harvest Moon Ball Amateur Dance Championships". 2013-06-17. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
- Pritchett, Judy; Manning, Frank (2003-04-21). "Leon James". Retrieved 2019-02-23.
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