These dances in turn got their roots from the Cakewalk, Ragtime and Minstrel shows of the 19th century. Primarily because they have not remained in the dance repertoire as a living tradition but were only dance fads or crazes which are now done only by dance historians and re-creationists. Folk dances are dances of the people. By the late 20 s, the American people were in an ever-expanding village, as dances and music could be spread throughout the country by phonograph, radio and the movies. Local enthusiasts could now emulate the top dancers of New York or Hollywood, but they continued to develop their own styles reflecting the personality of each region.
Swing is very much alive.
People have been doing it in one regional form or another since its inception. As in any folk tradition, there were innovators and stars that changed the course of the dance. For most traditional dances, we do not know who they were. In swing we are fortunate to be close to the origins of the dance and to have records of the persons involved. One important innovator in swing is Frankie Manning.