The dance fans amongst you will no doubt be familiar with Bob Fosse, a man who pioneered jazz dance styles in the 20th century through his choreography for musicals including ‘Redhead’, ‘Sweet Charity’ and ‘Chicago’. In accordance with his huge influence on modern-day dance, many dance groups have paid tribute to Mr. Fosse in recent years, including the legendary Radio City Rockettes precision dance company who in 2020 paid homage to the choreographer with a new jazz-inspired routine.
The routine was overtly inspired by Fosse’s work on the 1975 stage musical ‘Chicago’ (one of the longest-running Broadway musicals ever), whilst the song the dancers perform to – Liza Minnelli’s version of ‘All That Jazz’ – is also taken from the show. The group do an incredible job of recreating the show’s sultry but exciting feel in just a minute and a half, with each dancer clad in a tight black leotard and tights, and executing sexy but precise dance moves with unbelievable flair and panache.
In many ways, it’s not surprising that the routine is so good; not only are the Rockettes lauded as one of the best dance companies in the world, but this specific routine was also created in partnership with the Verdon Fosse Legacy, which seeks to promote the work of Fosse as well as fellow choreographer Gwen Verdon. The Rockettes certainly do justice to the legacy of Fosse with this routine, which one excited viewer described as “a Fosse tribute that gets it” and “pure skill and dance talent.”
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In fact, the Rockettes’ Fosse tribute becomes even more impressive when you realize this is not the type of dancing which members of the company usually perform. The company is actually best known for its ‘Christmas spectaculars’ at the Radio City Music Hall in New York, which always feature the dancers’ world-famous eye-high kicking moves. This clip of some of the most special moments from one of their recent Christmas shows will prove just how much skill it takes to pull off these movements.
But although The Radio City Rockettes are indeed best known for their Christmas shows, their Bob Fosse tribute back in 2020 made it plain that the dancers in the company are anything but one-trick ponies. Their precise, distinctive moves are nothing short of spectacular and prove not only how influential Fosse’s work has been on modern-day dance, but also the talent and versatility of the dancers who took part.
If you would like to learn more about The Rockettes, you can follow them on their [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/rockettes/) or visit their [Website](https://www.rockettes.com/) for more information.