I have loved FX’s mini-series Fosse/Verdon. Sorry to see we reached the finale this Tuesday.
One of the highlights of the series, which chronicles the lives, love and collaborations of director/choreographer Bob Fosse and 4-time Tony Award winner Gwen Verdon, has been the attention to detail in regard to the famous ‘Fosse style’ of dance presented throughout the series.
FX put together this behind-the-scenes look at how the choreography achieved such authenticity, in great part to members of the Verdon Fosse Legacy Project.
The project is made of of dancers who worked closely with Fosse on his Broadway productions and so have first hand knowledge of what the true, original intent of iconic steps and dance numbers was.
In the video below, Dana Moore, Lloyd Culbreath, and Valarie Pettiford talk about their work and experiences with the master himself.
I’ve worked with Dana, Lloyd and Valarie, and they definitely are the keepers of the flame.
When I went into the Broadway production of Chicago the Musical, it truly was like learning a new language. Dancing ‘Fosse style’ means mastering a vocabulary all unto itself.
Over the years, I’ve staged four productions of Chicago using the same approach that Ann Reinking did of creating my own version but utilizing the vocabulary, and there’s no cheating on that.
Trust and believe, Fosse dancers spot bad ‘imitation Fosse’ from a mile away.
Check out the video below, and bravo to the folks who gave us this terrific series.
Give your brain a mid-day break and enjoy this spoof of Broadway genius Bob Fosse’s “Rich Man’s Frug” from Sweet Charity. Taking iconic movements from the first section of the dance number – “The Aloof” – old and new Fosse dancers offer their vision of daily life in quarantine. Being a Fosse dancer and having tackled “Rich Man’s Frug,” I think this is pretty fun. 
