Bob Fosse

Question 1

Stylistic Features

Answer 1

-pigeon-toed; turned in knees
-hunched posture-rolled shoulder/back bends
-balding-wear bowler hats
-use of cane-hide his shaking hands
-finger stretching
-angular posturing
-shoulder rolling
-intricate gestures
-isolations
-uniform
-jazz hands
-percussive accents

Question 2

techniques/styles

Answer 2

-wanted to cover up his flaws/insecurities
-sexualised
-jazz-his own unique style was developed from jazz
-balletic positions
-social latin

Question 3

movement style

Answer 3

-jazz (percussive sounds, syncopated rhythms)
-stylised walk
-comedic element in slapstick
-danced for film; use of camera work
-erotic-physically demanding
-explored the full rabble of human emotion-pedestrianised and relatable

Question 4

key sections/works 1

Answer 4

Chicago-All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, All I Care About, We Both Reached For The Gun, Razzle Dazzle, Nowadays.
based on the idea of satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice ad the concept of the “celebrity criminal”

Question 5

key sections/works 2

Answer 5

Sweet Charity- Big Spender, Rich Man’s Frug, If My Friends Could See Me Now, There’s Got To Be Something Better Than This, The Rhythm of Life, I’m a Brass Band
Charity is a taxi dancer who meets Oscar Lindquist and they fall in love- Oscar is unable to accept Charity’s past

Question 6

key sections/works 3

Answer 6

Pajama Game-Steam Heat, My Sister Eileen, Dam Yankees, Bye Bye Blackbird

Question 7

Choreographic style

Answer 7

-themes linked to 1960s culture, feminism, objectification of women; reflecting American social issues
-strong sexual women/female characters
-Vaudeville inspired use of provocative entertainment and humour
-used props
-dark, grittier themes

Question 8

influences

Answer 8

-his own personal life; exposure to vaudeville and burlesque at a young age, physical limitations and insecurities
-Fred Astaire- American dancer known for his use of props like bowler hats
-Jack Cole; American dancer who developed his ow unique jazz-ethnic-ballet style
-Jerome Robbins- American dancer who became a mentor for Fosse and was known for his characterisation
-Sanford Meisner; American dancer who developed his own technique

Question 9

Performance quality

Answer 9

-placed
-slick
-smooth
-controlled
-erotic
-intense
-strong sense of intention and character
-eye contact and projection; emphasise subject matter

Question 10

contribution to AJD development

Answer 10

-changed Broadway forever in the 1950s, 60s and 70s with his ground-breaking choreography.
-Fosse rejected the tradition of capturing the dancing figure from head to toe
-His film work often brought light to many societal issues like feminism and the objectification of women
-his style was one that had never been seen before within the American Jazz Dance genre
-this dance style fed into Fosse’s mature film style which was often gestural-driven and close-up camera work that gave the sense of a hungry eye
-moved musical theatre away from the post WWII musical theatre.