Bob Fosse Flashcards
What was fosses technique?
- Stems from his own physical limitations:
Turned in knees = from being pigeon toed
Rolled shoulders = having bad posture
Use of cane = hands would shake
Bowler hat = balding - Jazz inspired – stylised that uses sensual, sexy, provocative actions
- Social dance (Latin)
What was Fosse Choreographic style
- Darker, grittier themes
- Strong female characters (made female centre of focus)
- Integration of props and set (hats, canes, chairs)
- Reflective American social issues (corruption in the Justice system, objectification of women, feminism, pop culture, discrimination, stereotyping)
- Vaudeville/Burlesque based entertainment and humour
What was fosses Stylistic Feature
- Use of props (chairs/hats from burlesque clubs)
- Isolations of the body (hands, fingers, pelvis, head, knees)
- Tuned in knees/pigeon-toed
- Jazz/splayed hands/hunched shoulders
- Sensual movement of the body (hips, struts, walks, plie)
- Percussive accents
- Boby percussion – slaps, clicks, clasps, vocals (“sissssssss”)
- En Masse ensemble works
What was Fosses Movement Style?
- Dance for film (cuts, shots, close ups, perspectives)
- Sensual, erotic, precise, intricate, placed, detailed
- Comedic elements
- Unique style of jazz dance
How did Fosse contribute to AJD
- Iconic, heavily stylised form of jazz that was totally unique and instantly recognisable
- Moved away from the post-war, light-hearted, escapist type musicals to ones with darker themes relating to American societal issues
- Developed dance for camera
Influence: His own personal life - vaudeville?
Exposure to the Vaudeville and Burlesque circuit from a young age and the sexual behaviour he witnessed
= as he worked from a young age in Burlesque. Act called The Riff Brothers
Influence: His own personal life - himself
His own physical limitations and insecurities
Influence: His own personal life - Acting
Studied acting at American Theatre Wing
Influence: His own personal life - dance class
being the only male dancer in his class - had attention
Influence: Fred Astaire - props?
He commonly used props such as bowler hats, canes and chairs
= cane would give an extension of his own body
Influence: Fred Astaire - known for as a dancer
- his sense of rhythm, creativity, and tireless perfectionism
- Most memorable dancing partnership with Ginger Roberts
Influence: Fred Astaire - song and dance
Astaire was adamant that all song and dance routines should be integral to the plot lines of the film
= drive the narrative
Influence: Fred Astaire - his bourgeoisie appeal
Astaire was prized for his elegance, grace, originality and precision as a dancer
Was posh and forma = a high brow entertainer
Influences: Jack Cole - multiculturalism
- he developed a mode of jazz-ethnic-ballet that prevails ad the dominant dancing style in todays commercial sector
- trained in modern dance in NY showing an interest in multiculturalism
Influences: Jack Cole - major areas
his career spanned three major arenas: nightclubs, Broadway stage and Hollywood film
