(June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American actor, dancer, musical theater choreographer, director, screenwriter, film editor and film director. He won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction. He was nominated for an Academy Award four times, winning for his direction of [[/wiki/Cabaret_(film)|Cabaret]] (beating Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather). His third wife, Broadway legend [[/wiki/Gwen_Verdon|Gwen Verdon]], helped to define and perfect his unique and distinct style simply referred to today as "Fosse."
Find out as much as you can about Fosse. Bring your findings to share with the class, photocopy your research for others and they will do the same for you. We'll compile a Fosse File.
On this page I have gathered together some important
clips of his early work, all the way up to Cabaret.
Watche all of the clips below to get a sense of him as a choreographer. What are his signature moves?
What movement vocabulary do you see repeated in his work even when the pieces are very different stylistically?
These pieces below are all Historical Influences on Form (structure, how does he put a dance together) and Movement Vocabulary. Look carefully for the steps etc that you see echoed in Percussion 4.
Who's Got the Pain - Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. Now you dont get to see him dance that often so this is a must.
Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon (his dance muse and wife) doing an interview/showing of Lola
The film version of Whatever Lola Wants
Bob Fosse in My Sister Eileen.
Unit 3's this one links well to Percussion 4 as it is shows more of Fosse's elevation and locomotion than you see in a lot of his work which uses more of his gestural, minimalistic style. Click on the link embedding not allowed.
There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This. Can you see repeated movements?
Somebody Loves Me At Last. Sweet Charity.
Ok so now here comes the culmination of an entire career. Cabaret. Its actually hard to just pull out sections of choreography because its his seamless direction of narrative and choreography that make Cabaret so special. If you are watching Fosse and thinking, yes I really like this, please watch Cabaret. You will have a deeper understanding of Fosse's talent and acheivement. It is a culturally important film.
This is where Fosse found the mastery of his art. This is where he found the influences of his upbringing in vaudeville and strip clubs and married it with the artistiry he'd gained over his choreography through, Pyjama Game, Damn Yankees and esp Sweet Charity. See if you can feel how he has risen to the point where he now is no longer the student of his craft.
Cabaret Mein Herr.
Ok so this isnt a choreographic number. But its worth seeing for Liza, she is unquestionably a star. What I also love about Click on the link embedding not allowed.
For the man who thought he was a fraud with no real talent...
Unit 3's here's Percussion 4. Look for steps, percussion influences etc from the dance works above. List the movements that you can see in some of the other pieces.
Who is this Bob Fosse?
Robert Louis Fosse.
(June 23, 1927 – September 23, 1987) was an American actor, dancer, musical theater choreographer, director, screenwriter, film editor and film director. He won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction. He was nominated for an Academy Award four times, winning for his direction of [[/wiki/Cabaret_(film)|Cabaret]] (beating Francis Ford Coppola for The Godfather). His third wife, Broadway legend [[/wiki/Gwen_Verdon|Gwen Verdon]], helped to define and perfect his unique and distinct style simply referred to today as "Fosse."
Find out as much as you can about Fosse. Bring your findings to share with the class, photocopy your research for others and they will do the same for you. We'll compile a Fosse File.On this page I have gathered together some important
clips of his early work, all the way up to Cabaret.
Watche all of the clips below to get a sense of him as a choreographer. What are his signature moves?
What movement vocabulary do you see repeated in his work even when the pieces are very different stylistically?
These pieces below are all Historical Influences on Form (structure, how does he put a dance together) and Movement Vocabulary. Look carefully for the steps etc that you see echoed in Percussion 4.
Who's Got the Pain - Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. Now you dont get to see him dance that often so this is a must.
Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon (his dance muse and wife) doing an interview/showing of Lola
The film version of Whatever Lola Wants
Bob Fosse in My Sister Eileen.
Unit 3's this one links well to Percussion 4 as it is shows more of Fosse's elevation and locomotion than you see in a lot of his work which uses more of his gestural, minimalistic style. Click on the link embedding not allowed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ItaESaGWMkhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ItaESaGWMk
Big Spender. Sweet Charity 1969
Rich Mans Fruge Sweet Charity 1969
There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This. Can you see repeated movements?
Somebody Loves Me At Last. Sweet Charity.
Ok so now here comes the culmination of an entire career. Cabaret. Its actually hard to just pull out sections of choreography because its his seamless direction of narrative and choreography that make Cabaret so special. If you are watching Fosse and thinking, yes I really like this, please watch Cabaret. You will have a deeper understanding of Fosse's talent and acheivement. It is a culturally important film.
This is where Fosse found the mastery of his art. This is where he found the influences of his upbringing in vaudeville and strip clubs and married it with the artistiry he'd gained over his choreography through, Pyjama Game, Damn Yankees and esp Sweet Charity. See if you can feel how he has risen to the point where he now is no longer the student of his craft.
Cabaret Mein Herr.
Ok so this isnt a choreographic number. But its worth seeing for Liza, she is unquestionably a star. What I also love about Click on the link embedding not allowed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moOamKxW844For the man who thought he was a fraud with no real talent...
Unit 3's here's Percussion 4. Look for steps, percussion influences etc from the dance works above. List the movements that you can see in some of the other pieces.