What is the Fosse style?

Fosse is best known for his signature jazz style, which features sultry hip rolls, smooth finger snaps, turned-in pigeon toes and specific, detailed movements.

How did Fosse develop his style?

Influenced initially by the work of Jack Cole, Fred Astaire, and Jerome Robbins, Fosse was fluent in a dizzying mix of styles: in Redhead alone he incorporated elements of the ballet, jazz, march, cancan, gypsy dance, and the traditional English music-hall.

What was Fosse’s signature style?

Fosse’s signature style, which he described as the “Fosse Amoeba,” was distinctive for its shoulder-rolling, turned in knees and toes, finger-snapping, bowler-hat-wearing, hip-thrusting, gloved-“jazz-hands” shuffle.

What is Fosse known for?

Bob Fosse is a choreographer, dancer and director best known for Tony Award-winning musicals including ‘Chicago’ and ‘Cabaret.

What is a Fosse move?

Bob Fosse was a dancer and choreographer who, with his distinct style, reshaped the aesthetics of modern musical theater. When you see a Fosse dance move, you know it’s a Fosse move. Think curved shoulders, turned-in knees, bowler hats, punctuated hand movements, finger snaps, sideways shuffling — and, yes, jazz hands.

Why is the musical Hair called hair?

The anti-Vietnam-war protests on the streets were dramatic and thrilling. Gerry and I thought we could write a show about all this. I’d seen a painting at the Whitney Museum, of a comb holding a clump of hair that had been pulled out. It was just called Hair – and that gave us the title for our musical.

Who invented jazz hands?

Probably the biggest proponent of jazz hands was Bob Fosse, who incorporated them in nearly all of his Broadway and film musical choreography. The best example of this is the opening musical number of Pippin, “Magic to Do”, in which still illuminated jazz hands are the first thing the audience sees.

What is a Fosse dance?

What are Fosse hands?

If you’ve seen dancers flare their fingers in the flexed position often mockingly called “jazz hands,” then you’ve seen Fosse, especially if those dancers were also sitting into one hip and hiding their eyes beneath a hat.

Why was the musical hair so controversial?

The musical’s profanity, its depiction of the use of illegal drugs, its treatment of sexuality, its irreverence for the American flag, and its nude scene caused much comment and controversy.