Practitioners
Bob Fosse The name ‘Bob Fosse’ may not be known to everyone, but his iconic choreographic style will certainly be familiar to most. Few film or theatre goers will not have been captivated by the brilliance of his choreography in shows such as Cabaret, the Pajama Game and Chicago. Indeed, Fosse catapulted dance onto centre stage, bringing it to life on stage and screen. What then are the qualities which make Fosse’s style unique? Fosse’s dancers were actors who told a story. He demanded a great deal in his drive for perfection. It was perhaps his upbringing on the vaudeville stage which shaped his style - dancers were often dressed in black, wearing hats, stockings and white gloves. He incorporated moves found on the stage, such as mime-like hand and arm movements, trip-falls and double takes. (Pendergast 2000). Fosse’s choreography, then, demanded dancers to be first class performers: “You can’t be a good dancer, unless you’re a good...