Bob Fosse – History, Career and Technique

Fosse Facts - Background Born June 23rd 1927 in Chicago, USA. Father was a vaudevillian, and Fosse used to perform in vaudevilles as a child, then burlesque shows as a teen. The only male to enrol at Frederick Weaver Ballet School. Married three times, all three wives were dancers. Fosse had a reputation for cheating on his wives , and his final wife Gwen Verdon, even entertained Fosse's girlfriends. Fosse had one daughter, Nicole, who created 'Fosse' the musical with Gwen Verdon after Fosse's death. Fosse collapsed on a street in Washington DC in 1987, and was rushed to hospital where he died of cardiac arrest. Drinking alcohol and smoking was a big part of Fosse's life, and he was well known for not living a 'typical' dancer's lifestyle.

Fosse Facts - Career After joining dance school at a young age and performing with his father, Fosse was interested in dance early on. At 13, he created The Riff Brothers with Charles Grass. In 1945, Fosse joined the Navy and was posted to entertainment units, which was where he claims he perfected his technique. Fosse's broadway debut was in 1950, in Dance Me A Song. b

http://broadwayscene.com/broadway-scenes-remembered-the-sexual-cynical-styling-of-bob-fosse/ In 1953, he moved to Hollywood and appeared in three musicals with MGM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0UFG OsabJo After his acting career flopped, he moved to New York and was asked to choreograph the Pajama Game. Watch Steam Heat on Fosse DVD Fosse went on to choreograph many successful musicals, and eventually began directing films

Bob Fosse Interview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H40FwHJlJYU

Famous Works by Fosse THE PAJAMA GAME (1957) SWEET CHARITY (1969) CABARET (1972) CHICAGO (1975) ALL THAT JAZZ (1979) (2001)

Honors and Achievements of Bob Fosse: Fosse received many awards during his lifetime, including eight Tony Awards for choreography, and one for direction. He won an Academy Award for his direction of "Cabaret," and was nominated three other times. He received a Tony Award for "Pippin" and "Sweet Charity" and an Emmy for "Liza with a 'Z'." In 1973, Fosse became the first person to win all three awards during the same year. Fosse died at the age of 60 on September 23, 1987, moments before the start of a revival of "Sweet Charity." The biographical movie "All That Jazz" portrays his life and pays tribute to his many contributions to jazz dance.

The Technique "I was getting pretty bald for a hoofer and felt a hat would hide it. Canes became important to me when my hands started trembling and seemed like a good way to distract the audience." Fosse used his imperfections to create his own technique and style. For example: Pigeon- toed = turned-in knees Bad posture = rolled shoulders and back bends Balding = wear bowler hats Shaking hands = use a cane Gaining weight = wear black

Dance Style of Bob Fosse: Fosse's unique jazz dance style was stylish and sexy, and easily recognized. After growing up in Caberet nightclubs, the nature of Fosse's signature style was sexually suggestive. Three of his dance trademarks included turned-in knees, sideways shuffling, and rolled shoulders.

The following essay discusses a number of examples The following essay discusses a number of examples. Look them up on YouTube as they arise.