Soul of the City: The Savoy King

Join us for an outdoor screening of The Savoy King: Chick Webb & the Music That Changed America (Jeff Kaufman, 2012, 90 min), preceded by a performance by The Harlem Swing Dance Society and a panel with producer Voza Rivers and friends. Small bites will be available for purchase from Charles Pan-Fried Chicken! 

The Savoy King tells the story of pioneering drummer and bandleader Chick Webb, known for his work leading the band at The Savoy Ballroom, a legendary Harlem venue. The Savoy Ballroom was the home of the amazing Lindy Hop dancers, and the first racially integrated club in the U.S. The Savoy Ballroom and Webb himself were instrumental in the jazz music scene of the 1930s. Webb fostered strong connections with nearly all the iconic musicians of that time, including Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Artie Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald, and more.  This film honors his impact and celebrates the music of this era.  

Event Timeline: 
6:00pm - Doors open to Pontarelli Terrace (first floor); drinks & popcorn available for purchase 
6:30 pm - The Harlem Swing Dance Society performs. 
6:45 pm – Panel begins. (Speakers TBA)
7:15 pm - Film screening begins. 
8:45 pm - Program ends. Museum closes. 

About the performers/speakers:  
The Harlem Swing Dance Society (THSDS) is the premiere Harlem organization promoting, preserving, propagating, and protecting Harlem’s rich Lindy Hop and Swing Dance culture in its Harlem home.  They have worked with various Harlem organizations, partnering and bringing awareness to this rich culture that was perfected at Harlem's famed Savoy Ballroom. "Come back to where it all began." 

Voza Rivers is A Living Legend. Award Winning Producer of Theater, Film, Music & Live Events; Local, National and International Impresario for the Advancement of Arts & Culture. Recipient of awards (partial list): United Nations Peace Award; Special Congressional Recognition; Legacy Honor Award, South Africa; Roy Wilkins Lifetime Achievement Award, NAACP; “One of the Most Influential New Yorkers in Arts and Culture”, New York Daily News. He produced projects in South Africa, Canada, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Japan, Cuba and Jamaica.