Comments on: Fossethon Finale — Your YouTube Lose Ends (UPDATED) http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-finale-your-youtube-lose-ends/ It's hip to be moribund! Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:49:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: bob http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-finale-your-youtube-lose-ends/#comment-20383 bob Thu, 15 Nov 2007 08:14:51 +0000 http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-finale-your-youtube-lose-ends/#comment-20383 Well, technically, it would probably be Fosse's work in "The Affairs of Dobie Gillis." The Shamus posted a great scene from it a while back but it has disappeared from YouTube since. But, in terms of choreography, most people seems to think those 40-some seconds in "Kate" which he not only danced, but choreographed, was the real breakthrough. (I linked to that scene but didn't present it because the only YouTube video of it was of too low a quality.) I think part of the reason that particular sequence is given such importance was that it directly led to George Abbott hiring him for his first full fledged Broadway choreography work on "The Pajama Game." In any case, of course his choreographic style is based on his personal dancing style, so the first time the Fosse style appeared on film was the first time Fosse appeared on film, whenever that was. Well, technically, it would probably be Fosse’s work in “The Affairs of Dobie Gillis.” The Shamus posted a great scene from it a while back but it has disappeared from YouTube since.

But, in terms of choreography, most people seems to think those 40-some seconds in “Kate” which he not only danced, but choreographed, was the real breakthrough. (I linked to that scene but didn’t present it because the only YouTube video of it was of too low a quality.) I think part of the reason that particular sequence is given such importance was that it directly led to George Abbott hiring him for his first full fledged Broadway choreography work on “The Pajama Game.”

In any case, of course his choreographic style is based on his personal dancing style, so the first time the Fosse style appeared on film was the first time Fosse appeared on film, whenever that was.

]]> By: Jim http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-finale-your-youtube-lose-ends/#comment-20321 Jim Wed, 14 Nov 2007 23:27:21 +0000 http://forwardtoyesterday.com/2007/11/12/fossethon-finale-your-youtube-lose-ends/#comment-20321 If I were to choose a moment where the Fosse style first appears it would be none of these but instead the "Tom, Dick and Harry" sequence from "Kiss Me Kate." That wasn't even choreographed by Bob but by Hermes Pan, Fred Astaire's old choreographer back in the thirties. But when you have Fosse, Tommy Rall and Bobby Van standing up side by side, supposedly doing the same steps, you can pick out Fosse no trouble at all. You can pick them all out, actually, The Hoofer, The Ballet Dancer and Fosse. Fosse never let his dancers show that sort of individuality. If I were to choose a moment where the Fosse style first appears it would be none of these but instead the “Tom, Dick and Harry” sequence from “Kiss Me Kate.” That wasn’t even choreographed by Bob but by Hermes Pan, Fred Astaire’s old choreographer back in the thirties. But when you have Fosse, Tommy Rall and Bobby Van standing up side by side, supposedly doing the same steps, you can pick out Fosse no trouble at all. You can pick them all out, actually, The Hoofer, The Ballet Dancer and Fosse. Fosse never let his dancers show that sort of individuality.

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