How Did Bob Fosse Choreograph Chicago
You've stumbled onto the groovy, glove-wearing, chair-sliding secrets of a true legend! We're talking about Bob Fosse and his epic, jazzy-hands masterwork, Chicago. Forget your TikTok dances; this is the OG cool. You wanna know how this dude cooked up a musical so spicy it still slays today? Buckle up, buttercup, 'cause we’re diving deep into the Fosse vibe. It's a whole mood, a whole lewk, and definitely not your grandma's waltz.
The Super Secret, Jazz-Hands Guide to Fosse-fying Chicago
This wasn't just a guy making up steps; it was a whole vibe shift in dance. Fosse was basically the inventor of theatrical moodiness. He took the darkness, the sass, and the sheer chutzpah of the Roaring Twenties and slammed it into a Broadway show.
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| How Did Bob Fosse Choreograph Chicago |
Step 1: Stealing with Style (Borrowing the Basics) ️
First off, Fosse didn't just wake up one day and invent the entire jazz dance vocabulary. He was a savvy dude who knew how to remix and upgrade the classics.
1.1 The Jazz Age Foundation
It's all about that era, man. Chicago is set in the 1920s, a time of flappers, speakeasies, and scandalous crime stories. Fosse was obsessed with the vaudeville acts and the cabaret shows of that time—think super saucy, close-to-the-floor movement, and a lot of slinky walking. He basically took the shimmy and the shuffle and made them Broadway-ready. He thought: "If they're gonna be criminals, they better look cool doing it." ️
1.2 The Gene Kelly Influence (But Darker)
Before Fosse, there was Gene Kelly and all those big, athletic, happy dances in the rain. Fosse was like, "Nah, I'm gonna make it small, sharp, and a little bit naughty." He learned from the best but gave it a cynical twist. Everything was tighter, faster, and had this air of "I know something you don't." It's the difference between a sunny pop song and a really cool, deep-bass track.
Step 2: The Signature Sass (Developing the Look) ✨
This is where Fosse went from "good dancer" to "legendary choreographer." He had a few dance moves that became his personal trademarks, like a superhero's suit.
QuickTip: A short pause boosts comprehension.
2.1 The Slump and the Shrug
Fosse’s dancers rarely stood up straight like a ballet star. They were always a little hunched, knees bent, shoulders rolled forward. Why? Because it made them look vulnerable yet seductive. It was that "I just woke up, but I'm still the hottest person in the room" vibe. It made the movements seem like they were exploding from the core, not just floating through the air. It gave them edge.
2.2 The Glove Factor and the Hat Tilt
Think about it: white gloves on stage. Why? They make your hands pop! Every little twitch, every jazz hand, every finger snap becomes a spotlight moment. This is crucial for Chicago's vibe, which is all about show-stopping gestures. The derby hats were basically Fosse's way of controlling what you saw. Tilt a hat, and suddenly, the dancer's face is in shadow—instant mystery!
2.3 Chairs, Canes, and Cropping ✂️
Fosse loved props. In Chicago, the chairs aren't just for sitting; they're extensions of the dancer's body. They become obstacles, weapons, and dance partners. The dancers are always peeking through their legs, sitting backward, or sliding dramatically. Also, his choreography was famous for "cropping" the body—meaning you'd only see a flash of a leg, or just a torso move. It’s like a fast-paced, suspenseful movie where you never quite see the killer’s face. It keeps you guessing.
Step 3: The Storytelling Swag (Making it Mean Something) ️
Chicago isn't just a dance party; it's a dark comedy about fame, crime, and the media circus. Fosse had to make the dance steps tell that story.
3.1 Vaudeville as a Blueprint
The genius move here was structuring the entire show like a vaudeville revue—a series of separate acts. Each main character's song is a "star turn," a moment where they basically say, "Look at me! I'm famous now!" This is super important because it mirrors the craving for attention that the characters have. The dance steps are flashy and look a bit "look-at-me," reflecting the characters' massive egos.
Tip: Read actively — ask yourself questions as you go.
3.2 Choreography as Character
When Velma Kelly (the established murderer) dances, her movements are often sharp, aggressive, and perfectly rehearsed (like her "Cell Block Tango" sequence). She's a pro. When Roxie Hart (the wannabe murderer) dances, her moves are sometimes a little clumsier or more feverish—she's trying too hard to look cool. Fosse made sure the dance showed you who these people were deep down. The choreography was the gossip.
3.3 The Power of Pause
Fosse was a master of the dramatic stop. Just when the music is pumping and the energy is high, everyone freezes. BAM! That sudden silence and stillness is more impactful than ten cartwheels. It gives the audience a second to gasp, and then the movement explodes again. This isn't just rhythm; it's drama.
Step 4: The Final Polish (Keepin' It Tight)
Fosse was a perfectionist, which is fancy talk for "someone who drove his dancers bonkers until it was flawless."
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4.1 Rehearsal 'Til You Drop
Legend has it that Fosse would drill the same eight counts over and over until every single person in the chorus was doing the movement exactly the same way. The timing had to be laser-sharp. The precision is what makes the Fosse style so mesmerizing. It's like watching a perfectly oiled machine—a really sexy, dangerous machine.
4.2 The Lighting Love Affair
Fosse worked super closely with the lighting designers. His steps often looked way cooler because of the lights. Think of a single spotlight on a hand during a snapping sequence. That's not an accident; that's Fosse making sure you don't miss a thing. The choreography was designed to be enhanced by the shadows and the glow, making the dancers look even more mysterious and intense. It's all about the drama, baby!
Tip: The details are worth a second look.
In short, Bob Fosse choreographed Chicago by taking the sleaze of the 1920s, adding his signature slumped, glove-wearing, pelvic-thrusting style, and structuring it all to look like a series of attention-grabbing vaudeville acts. The result? A musical that is pure, unadulterated fire.
10 Related FAQs: Quick Tips from a Legend
How to dance like Bob Fosse?
Focus on isolations (moving only one body part at a time, like your shoulder or hip), keep your knees bent and your shoulders rounded (the Fosse slump), and make every movement sharp and deliberate.
How to use a hat like a Fosse dancer?
Use the hat to frame your face and to create shadows and mystery. A quick tilt or a sharp move away from the brim can add major dramatic flair.
How to get the Fosse hand style?
Wear gloves! And make your hands look splayed, dramatic, and expressive. Think "jazz hands" but with more attitude and tension in the fingers.
How to do a Fosse walk?
It's a slinky, sensual, low-to-the-ground movement. Keep your knees bent and your hips rolling subtly, leading with a confident swagger and often with a slight pelvic thrust.
QuickTip: Stop and think when you learn something new.
How to make choreography dramatic?
Use the power of the pause. Throw in moments of complete stillness to build tension before exploding back into movement.
How to choreograph a story with dance?
Make sure the movements reflect the character's mood or intentions. If a character is angry, use sharp, aggressive moves; if they are trying to be seductive, use fluid, rolling ones.
How to find music for a Fosse style dance?
Look for jazz or blues tracks with a strong, driving rhythm and a slightly sultry or cynical feel. Big band sounds from the 1920s and 30s are a great starting point.
How to use a chair in a dance number?
The chair should be treated as a partner or a tool. Use it for leverage for slides, for framing your body, or as a barrier between you and the audience.
How to get Fosse's precision in a dance group?
Practice until the timing is identical for everyone. The key to Fosse's group numbers is that they look like a single, unified, sharp unit.
How to feel confident doing Fosse choreography?
Embrace the attitude! The style is all about being a little sassy, a little naughty, and totally in control. Don't just do the steps—sell the performance!
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