Bob Fosse

Bob Fosse (1927-1987), American choreographer (see Choreography) and stage and film director, admired for his work in Broadway musicals. Born Robert Louis Fosse in Chicago, Illinois, and trained in dance and acting, Fosse won his first Tony awards for his imaginative dance sequences in the musicals Pajama Game (1953) and Damn Yankees (1955). Other successes include How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1961), Sweet Charity (1965), Dancin' (1978), and the Academy Award-winning films Cabaret (1972) and All That Jazz (1980). Noted for its intentionally exaggerated staging and unique arrangements of dancers, Fosse's choreography emphasized stylistic techniques such as locked ankles, hip thrusts, shoulder rolls, and leaning postures.