My Favorite Choreographers/Dance Educators (Part 6)

(I should be honest with you...the past five choreographers were in no particular order, but this choreographer is my number 1!)

He was an actor, dancer, choreographer, director, screenwriter, and film editor.  He pushed the envelope of creativity and used that creativity to literally create a new style of dance that is instantly recognized by most audiences.  He is ...

Bob Fosse!

8 Tony Awards for choreography and 1 for direction, 1 Academy Award, and 1 Emmy.  He was the first person to win all three awards in the same year and he still never thought he had reached perfection.

His story is very similar to many male dancers, going with his sister to ballet class; however, his teachers did not think much of his skills as a dancer, his arms and legs did not possess the natural ability for ballet.  Instead of admitting defeat, he developed a style of dancing that embraced what were deemed earlier as “flaws” and jazz dancing will never be the same. 

The comments from his teachers did stick with him and pushed him in a way to always desire perfection never believing he achieved it. 

Why I Love Him

Choreography: I will always love musicals and the musicals he has given us and the choreography that he created is legendary. Theatre credits: The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sweet Charity, Pippin, Liza with a Z, Chicago, Dancin’ and Film credits: The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Sweet Charity, Cabaret, and All That Jazz, to name a few.  Here is a number from his first show: 

Work Ethic: His work ethic is also formidable.  If he was ever performing, he rehearsed incessantly never believing he was good enough.  For example, he had to do a back flip in choreography once and flew to New York to work with his friend to learn how to do this back flip.  He flew back to perform, then having perfected the flip.  He brought that 1000% (yes I meant to type 1000) work ethic with him into every project he did.  Here is an interview with dancers commenting on working with Fosse. 

Humility: He always worked to better himself and his work.  He was never complacent or arrogant.  That type of success usually changes people.  Not Fosse.  Here is a rare interview to give you an idea of who he was.

I will leave you with a clip from his first on screen, professional choreography debut.  He was cast in the film version of Kiss Me Kate and the choreographer let him choreograph his duet. 

My Favorite Choreographers/Dance Educators (Part 5)

(In No Particular Order)

I am so excited to talk about this choreographer, I don’t even know where to start or what to include!  I could probably do an entire series on this choreographer alone.  He has absolutely revolutionized ballet performance and created ballets that appeal to dance critics, ballet aficionados, and the masses.

Matthew Bourne!

By far, Matthew Bourne is best known for his version of Swan Lake, which utilizes men to portray the swans rather than women.

Dancer Adam Cooper as the Swan.  (More on him later in my “Favorite Dancer” series.)

Mr. Bourne took the traditional Swan Lake and created an entirely new production that both shocked and moved audiences.  At first it was not that well received as the Prince was still portrayed by a man and the fact that Mr. Bourne “changed the original.”  Luckily, for us, they kept performing and eventually won Tony’s including Best Direction, Best Choreography, and Best Costumes.  Here’s why:

At the age of 22, Mr. Bourne began his official dance career as a student at The Laban Centre and began dancing and choreographing immediately.  With friends, he formed the dance company Adventures in Motion Pictures.  It was here that Matthew Bourne developed his pedestrian, story-telling style.  Although that statement almost makes his masterpieces sound like mime, they are FAR from it.  His ability to use pedestrian ideas, emotions, humor, and strict technique, all at the same time is awe-inspiring.

Here is a piece he created for Adventures in Motion Pictures.  The piece is called “Spitfire” and is a social commentary on the objectification of men and their role in society and in ballet.  This clip also includes Adam Cooper...I’m starting a trend...

Adventures in Motion Pictures has now become New Adventures with Matthew Bourne as artistic director. 

Matthew Bourne has not only re-created Swan Lake, but also, Nutcracker, Edward Scissorhands, Dorian Gray, Cinderella, Lord of the Flies, and is currently working on Sleeping Beauty!

Why I Love Him

He has truly elevated dance to it’s fullest potential: high-quality dance technique, solid plot, superb acting, technical perfection (including sets, costumes, makeup, etc.), social and political commentary, appeal to a wide-variety of audiences, all while maintaining a respectful and encouraging work environment. 

OK here’s one more video!

New Adventures doesn’t come to the US often, but if they do...SEE THEM!  Click here for their website.