Al Minns Next Generation Project
Honoring the PAST,
Dancing into the FUTURE
Preserving the Black roots of Lindy Hop while building a future
grounded in knowledge, respect, and shared responsibility.
Our Partners
Al Minns Next Generation Project
Honoring the Legacy, Empowering the Next Generation of Lindy Hop
The Al Minns Next Generation Project honors the Black roots of Lindy Hop while building a future grounded in knowledge, respect, and shared responsibility.
Al Minns was a pioneering Black dancer whose work helped shape Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz as vibrant American dance forms. From winning the 1938 Harvest Moon Ball to performing with Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers on film and stage, and later teaching in New York, his legacy reflects the Black excellence and cultural depth at the heart of these dances.
Today, young Black Lindy Hop dancers are often underrepresented and isolated in local scenes across the United States, leading to loss of belonging and the erosion of Black lineage within the form.
The Al Minns Next Generation Project exists to change that—by identifying and supporting emerging Black Lindy dancers through mentorship, master-level training, peer community, and cultural education.
At the same time, we welcome dancers of all backgrounds who are committed to learning the history, honoring the culture, and carrying these dances forward with integrity.
Al Minns Next Generation Project
Honoring the Legacy, Empowering the Next Generation of Lindy Hop
Al Minns Next Generation Project honors the Black roots of Lindy Hop while building a future grounded in knowledge, respect, and shared responsibility.
Al Minns was a pioneering Black dancer whose work helped shape Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz as vibrant American dance forms. From winning the 1938 Harvest Moon Ball to performing with Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers on film and stage, and later teaching in New York, his legacy reflects the Black excellence and cultural depth at the heart of these dances.
Today, young Black Lindy Hop dancers are often underrepresented and isolated in local scenes across the United States, leading to loss of belonging and the erosion of Black lineage within the form.
Al Minns Next Generation Project exists to change that—by identifying and supporting emerging Black Lindy dancers through mentorship, master-level training, peer community, and cultural education.
At the same time, we welcome dancers of all backgrounds who are committed to learning the history, honoring the culture, and carrying these dances forward with integrity.
Al Minns Next Generation Project
Organization Origin Story
Al Minns Next Generation Project was created in response to a growing absence
Lindy Hop and Vernacular Jazz were born in Black communities, yet today many of the spaces built around these dances no longer reflect that history. Across the United States, young Black Lindy Hop dancers often find themselves isolated in local scenes, lacking mentorship, community, and pathways to leadership. Too many leave the dance entirely.
This project began as a direct response to that reality named in honor of Al Minns — a Black pioneering dancer, performer, and teacher — Al Minns Next Generation Project was designed to intentionally support the next generation of Black Lindy Hop dancers through training, mentorship, and community-building. Rather than relying on informal access or individual resilience, the project creates structure where none existed.
The goal is simple and urgent: to ensure these dances continue with cultural integrity, living knowledge, and leadership rooted in the communities from which they came.
OUR PROGRAMS
Programs That Drive Results
Implementation
The ECOSYSTEM that brings our solution to life
Jazz Legacy Week
Annual Juneteenth-centered cultural festival in New Orleans
Legacy Mentorship Program
Year-round guidance from cultural elders
Youth Cultural Labs
Technique, culture, identity, leadership
Lindy Hop Curriculum
National PK–12 curriculum in development
Legacy Student Access Fund
Travel scholarships to national/global festivals
Stage Production
Professional Lindy Hop show preserving Black history
Community Outreach
Workshops, school partnerships, local engagement
Support the Legacy
Help Preserve the Future of Lindy Hop
Your support empowers the next generation of Black dancers to learn, grow, and carry this cultural legacy forward with authenticity and excellence.
Leadership
Honoring the PAST, Dancing into the FUTURE
Mentors
Real Guidance, Real Results
Chester Whitmore
Mentor
Sugar Sullivan
MENTOR
Barbara Billups
MENTOR
LaTasha Barnes
MENTOR
Tyderick Hill
MENTOR
Dee Locke
MENTOR
AJ Howard
MENTOR
Breia
MENTOR
Julia Loving
MENTOR
Ursula Hicks
MENTOR
Staff
Driven by Passion and Skill
Andrea Gordon
Staff
Marie N’Diaye
Staff
Felix Berghäll
Staff
Tanisha Glass
Staff