Your Guide to the Choreographers That Changed Dance
Choreographers make art using body movement – any ballet or other dance performance requires their magic touch to both create original dances and develop new interpretations of existing works.
As an avid dance enthusiast, I am highly interested in learning about choreography and following the career path of some of the current well-known choreographers such as Craig Revel Horwood, as well as the master innovators who paved their way.
The following guide will give dance fans an exploration of some of the most famous choreographers who set a new standard – Part 3 of this series will focus on Bob Fosse and Paul Taylor.
Bob Fosse (1927-1987)
Born in 1927 in Chicago, Robert Louis “Bob” Fosse grew to become one of the most influential men in jazz dance history – his unique style is still practiced in dance studios throughout the world.
Fosse grew up surrounded by dance and theatre – at the age of only 13, he teamed up with another talented young dancer, Charles Grass, to tour throughout Chicago theatres as “The Riff Brothers”. Later, he was hired to star in a show touring military and naval bases called “Tough Situation” – he credited this as the time he perfected his performance technique.
Having taken years of acting classes, Fosse moved to Hollywood to kick-start a film career. His acted in several films, but this career path was cut short due to premature baldness, which then saw him shifting to choreography.
After he successfully choreographed “The Pajama Game” in 1954, Fosse then went on to direct five feature films, including the famous “Cabaret”, which won eight Academy Awards. He earned his third Oscar nomination for directing the equally successful “All That Jazz”, which also won four Academy Awards.
In addition, Fosse received many other awards during his lifetime, including eight Tony Awards for choreography, and one as a director.
Fosse’s jazz dance style was stylish and distinctive. Three of his dance trademarks included turned-in knees, sideways shuffling and rolled shoulders. And because he grew up in Cabaret nightclubs, his signature style was also sexually provocative.
Paul Taylor (1930-present)
American born Paul Taylor is arguably considered to be the greatest living choreographer. His career began when he decided to take up dancing at the Juilliard School and the American Dance Festival at Connecticut College. During his time at the latter institution, he caught the eye of Martha Graham, who invited him to join the Martha Graham Dance Company. He went on to dance for several other great modern choreographers, including Merce Cunningham and George Balanchine.
In 1954, he founded his own organisation called The Paul Taylor Dance Company. To date, it has enjoyed a distinguished history, having performed in more than 500 cities in 62 countries across the globe. Many famous dancers have emerged from this company in which Taylor choreographed over 90 dances, such as Twyla Tharp, Laura Dean and Dan Wagoner.
Taylor’s choreographical style is distinguished by incorporating everyday gestures rather than dance moves. His works tend to be about people, focusing on their feelings and individual interactions with others. Taylor’s most famous masterpieces are known for their wit, warmth, musicality, and excitement – an example is “Esplanade,” set to music by Johann Sebastian Bach.
The legacy of Paul Taylor continues to inspire the dance world to this day. Now approaching his 80s, he remains devoted to directing his company.
Conclusion
Choreographers Bob Fosse and Paul Taylor revolutionised the world of contemporary dance – with their unique innovation and passion they circumvented difficult obstacles to bring their vision to the public. They also paved the way for modern choreographers such as the UK’s own Craig Revel Horwood to excel in their profession.
Author Bio: Rio Spelling is a choreography and dance enthusiast
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