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Photo credits:
Allison Michael Orenstein
David Woolley
Bryant Gover
Marcell Bendik
Ana Luz Crespi
The phrase “killer diller” is jazz slang, in common use in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. To be a “killer” or a “killer diller” meant you were red hot, back in the day. So if you’re a Killer Diller you got chops, you’re gangbusters, you’re really the cat’s meow. Dig it?
The phrase can be heard in lyrics sung by the likes of Cab Calloway, Slim & Slam, Fats Waller, The Cats & The Fiddle, and Benny Goodman even played a tune called Killer Diller in his historic concert in Carnegie Hall in 1938.
Killer Diller was also the name of a film made in 1948 that, amongst other things, featured famed Lindy Hop troupe The Congaroos (including the late and great Frankie Manning) performing a fast and wildly acrobatic number that has gone down in swing dance history as one of the greatest ever. Here is that scene:
Oh, and the Urban Dictionary defines a Killer Diller as “Something so cool there are no other words to describe it.” That’s fine with us.
Tap, Cane, Lindy Hop, Musician
Lindy Hop, Jazz, Tap, Vocalist
Lindy Hop, Tap, Cane, Acrobatics
Lindy Hop, Burlesque, Charleston
Lindy Hop, Cane, Acrobatics, Comedy
Lindy Hop, Aerialist, Charleston
The Killer Dillers are a troupe of professional dancers drawn from across the globe, specializing in performance artforms of the jazz era. Aiming to bring back the spectacular style of song-and-dance entertainment from the golden age of show business, the Killer Dillers' repertoire includes Lindy Hop, Charleston, Tap and a variety of other authentic vintage jazz dances, as well as comedy, acrobatics and burlesque. Read more...
