Why Is Bob Fosse Important To Dance

Tony Award-winning dancer, choreographer, and director, Robert Louis Fosse, most famous for his Broadway work, revolutionized the way dance in musicals was viewed around the world. His distinct and thought-provoking dance technique challenged the most advanced dancers and his work helped pave the way for musical theater choreography for the decades that followed his death. Fosse’s work depicted influences by major figures in dance: including Jack Cole, Fred Astaire, and Jerome Robbins.

Robert Louis Fosse, born in Chicago, Illinois on June 23, 1927, started his dance career at an early age. His dance story began when he attended dance schools as a child and his journey as a student quickly became his journey as professional when he began dancing

Most notoriously, Fosse invented the “jazz hand” and some of his signature movements include turned-in knees, rolled shoulders, and sideways shuffles. Attention to detail played a prominent role in his choreography and his dance technique; each movement he created was supported by a remarkable amount of detail. A movement as miniscule as a head nod—which was often used— and other diminutive gestures required extreme conscientiousness: a factor behind why his choreography challenged even the most advanced of dancers. Small details made Bob Fosse’s choreography so distinct in essence. The theatrical essence he has as he stood on stage during silent moments, such as the way he walked or simply held his teacup, utilized his attention to detail, illuminated the stage, and made him stand out among his

His most notable work, however, was not on a live, professional stage. Instead, he was behind the camera, in 1972, as the director of the iconic work Cabaret; this film, to this day, holds the record for most number of Academy Award wins in a single year without the accolade of “Best Picture”. In the box office, the film collected approximately $42,765,000. Years later, he directed the musical film All That Jazz, a semi-autobiographical movie about Bob Fosse’s