On Sunday October 1, 2006, Dreamtime Entertainment and Swing Dance USA present: Norma Miller, The Queen of Swing, a biographical film documentary at the Tampa Theatre.
Alan Govenar, biographer and filmmaker, wrote, “When she was just 5 years old in 1924, Norma Miller knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She wanted to dance. One Easter Sunday seven years later, Norma got her wish.”
John Biffar, the film's producer, has spent the last 10 years researching and documenting Norma's life and assembling clips and archives on film. He has included interviews with Bill Cosby, Bill Cobbs, Frankie Manning, and the late Leonard Reed. John has uncovered, organized and produced a world class film that makes you realize, Norma is definitely a living legend.
Norma’s story is more than interesting. It is enlightening. In the 1930s New York City’s famed dance hall, the Savoy Ballroom, was the only place where whites and blacks could dance and mingle on the same dance floor. The Savoy in Harlem is where Norma’s dancing career was launched. Her life experience illuminates what Norma often says, “Dancing is the salvation of the world.”
Proceeds from the movie go to the Louis Armstrong Jazz Camp Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provides instruments and music training for disadvantaged children. Some of the visiting dignitaries will be Mercedes Ellington, dancer-choreographer and granddaughter of Duke Ellington, and Phoebe Jacobs, executive vice president of the Louis Armstrong Foundation.
The public is invited to this special screening of the movie Queen of Swing playing Sunday, October 1st at the Tampa Theatre, 711 Franklin Street, Tampa, FL. www.tampatheatre.org Admission is $11. Tickets are available at the Box Office of the Tampa Theatre (813) 274-8982 or (813) 274-8286. Before the show, at 1PM, there will be a free dance to the tunes of Lounge Cat. The film will begin at 3 PM. After the showing Norma will be available for pictures and book signings.
A large crowd of swing dancers and cheering spectators will be gathering in front of the Tampa Theatre to create an historic vintage style swing dance photo in honor of Norma Miller. Dancers are encouraged to wear “vintage” clothing of the era. There will be a “best dressed” contest for an original signed and framed “Norma” movie poster.
Contact: Artist Agency at 813-589-5889 or Fran at 985-8216
