Bob Fosse is one of the greatest choreographers and
directors ever. He changed the way dance was viewed in the late 20th
century on stage and in film. Fosse started as a dancer with his first Broadway performance in 1950 in Dance Me a Song and later moved to choreographing when his acting career stalled out. Fosse was an overnight success with his first
fully choreographed show The Pajama Game,
in 1954. The Pajama Game highlighted
his trademark style: sexually suggestive hip-thrusts; hunched shoulders and
turned in feet; the articulation of hands and the infamous jazz hands. Today
his style is known as the “Fosse” style. He received a Tony Award for Best
Choreography for The Pajama Game, and
it would not be his last either. Fosse become a nationally known and respected
choreographer by 1960, and no longer liked taking orders from producers and
directors. They didn’t think his signature style was appropriate and wanted to
take it away, so Fosse decided to direct as well. He directed and choreographed
a total of eight musicals between 1956 and 1966. One of his greatest Broadway
hits was Pippin, 1972; Fosse received
five Tony Awards for Pippin,
including best direction and choreography, both awarded to him. He won a total
of eight Tony Awards for choreography and one for direction, in addition to
being nominated for an Academy Award four times over his career. Fosse died on
September 23, 1987 after a rehearsal for the revival of Sweet Charity. In April 2007, Fosse was inducted into the National
Museum of Dance.
The above link features biographical information about his professional career, including a list of shows he has worked on. The picture comes from this website.
This video various clips of Bob Fosse dancing ranging from 1949 to 1962.
The above link also features biographical information about Bob Fosse's life but also includes more information on Pippin, and sells videos of his work.