Sweet Charity - Fosse Flashcards
How is sexualised and provocative style seen in Sweet Charity?
“There’s got To Be something better than this”
- this number focuses on the group of three friends, Nicky, Helene and Charity as they are trying to find a way out of their life at the Fandango Ballroom. This involves a more latin Style to the work in comparison to some of Fosse’s other numbers but still incorporate many of his sexualised stylistic features. This includes the use of the wrists, costuming - they use the skirts on their dresses, the strength in the movement highlights their strength and freedom as women
How is the contribution of props in choreography seen?
“If they could see me now”
- There is use of a typical black top hat during this number as a prop used in both a comedic way as well as extending the theme behind the number. These were used by Fosse to also extend the work of Fred Astaire who also used these props. Later in the number, a classic black cane is used in partnership with the black top hat to highlight the influence of Fosse in the number.
How is the contribution of taking a satirical approach in his works
“Rich mans Frug”
- this number is used to criticise the upper class throughout the piece. It consists of three different sections; The Aloof, The Heavyweight, The Big Finish which focus on the different behaviours within the upper class. Fosse used satire when approaching the number throughout the costumes and the movement content to portray the ideas behind social status within society with movements such as: Elongated walk-the rich think they are better.
Looking down their noses - they are looking down their noses at the lower class.
Their costumes also consist of suits and diamond headpieces which emulate the idea of wealth and status
How is the contribution of highly unique and stylised movement style seen?
- All of Fosse’s numbers in “Sweet Charity” incorporate his unique style and influence on American Jazz Dance through the stylistic features of:
1. Grounded movement
2. Use of wrists - teat drop hands
3. Isolations
4. Turned in
5. Hunched over posture
6. Black costumes
7. Use of props
8. Flexed and contracted movements
How is the contribution of developed dance for camera seen?
“There Got to be something better than this”
- this number uses the camera effectively as it follows the perspective of each character indiviually as they tell their plans for the future. Following this, the camera is also used from the perspective of the audience as they face the dancers as well as from a perspective behind the dancers to give a range of effects within the roles.
How is the contribution of Fosse of Revolutionary in his open minded and highly sexualised approach?
“Hey Big Spender”
- The piece focuses on the idea of objectification of women through their performance at the Fandango Ballroom. The sexualised style includes the use of focus, leaning towards the male character, chest and pelvic movements and rippling of arms. These are the focus of the number as they involve the idea of women performing for men in a sexualised way.
How is the contribution of exploring darker and gritter themes shown?
“Rhythm of Life”
- this piece is based around the idea of 1960s culture at the time that often involved cult-type behaviour, the use of drug and hippie culture. This is clearly exhibited during the “Rhythm of Life” as it highlights the idea that the characters are on drugs through the fixed focus and shaking as well as the crazy costumes that are used to indicate the 1960s culture
