Hello, that's me up there (Gail Benedict) with some of the greatest performers and musicians of the 20th century. Two things: This gift of a show was given to us directly from Bob Fosse during 8 weeks of grueling rehearsal and 4 exhausting weeks out of town with him refining every moment (with which he would never be truly satisfied because that's just the kind of artist he was). So all this gibber jabber about us not dancing in the PURE Fosse style is just RIDICULOUS!!! We were his clay and this performance is only a few months after we opened. Historically speaking, Fosse's "style" came out of the fact that he was first and foremost a TAP DANCER (it was ALWAYS ABOUT THE RHYTHM) and his marriage/collaboration with Gwen Verdon, who was Jack Cole's assistant for many years, resulted in the melding of two truly original American dance forms...both of which are founded, primarily, on rhythm and connecting with the music in a free and seemingly improvisational way. Bob's motto for his work and Gwen's too was "LESS IS MORE" (interesting)...which he took from Sandy Meisner his acting mentor at the Neighborhood Playhouse. In recent years this "style" has become almost codified and not necessarily adequate to fully realize and emulate this great Musical Theatre dance legacy. You cannot fault the younger dancers for that. Often, passing on choreography is a bit like playing telephone. By the time you reach the end of the line the message bears little resemblance to the original statement and has been "reinterpreted" and/or plainly misunderstood by the messengers along the way. If you want to learn "Fosse Style" just watch Bob and Gwen dance together in "Who's Got the Pain". That two and a half minute dance pretty much sums in all up:) Second Thing: It is little known that the playback for the "78 Tony Awards" performance was about 1/3 faster than we actually danced it every night AND we were on a much smaller and confined stage space. It was TERRIFYING. It was also the end of an 8 show week and we had done our Sunday matinee just a few hours prior so we were all EXHAUSTED. Not to make excuses, but if it looks a bit "sloppy" these factors definitely played into our performance. But, I can truly say we were all DANCING OUR HEARTS OUT for Bob.
Ann Reinking is always just a little bit better than everyone else, isn’t she? Just slightly more freedom, slightly better technique and precision, slightly more musical...the dancer’s dancer.
Dancin’ came out before I got to Broadway, but what is most notable is Miss Reinking didn’t use her name to do anything better. She was happy dancing ing the chorus and to her credit did absolutely Nothing to draw attention to herself. We all know most “Stars” would attempt to pull our attention toward them. What an enormous flame we have lost in entertainment. A triple threat, start to finish. Certainly missed.
The difference is simple: the original dancers are all individuals with personality. The Fosse version is all about flashing lights and steps. Fosse also isn't helped by the inept TV direction. The original didn't need flashing lights and all that BS. And there's one other word that is a key difference: Joy. The original had JOY.
How about we celebrate BOTH casts for the beautiful, talented hard working artists they ALL are? I am so tired everyone having this need to judge who was better. I was an on stage dance captain for the 1999 Broadway company of Fosse and I rehearsed that show starting in 1994 before it was a show. That's right, FIVE YEARS learning, training, preproduction, 2 workshops, out of town try out in 3 cities. And Gwen was there every step of the way, from the first moment I started. Gail, just like the 1978 company, we also had 8 shows that week, we also were performing on a different stage, we also were exhausted, but we were also blessed and exhilarated. Dance is not like a game of telephone. Dance is something beautiful and unique that changes when you put the same choreography on a different human body and spirit. It is a collaboration. I am so proud of our 1999 company of FOSSE no one will ever know how hard we worked or what we sacrificed to be there. I am and always be in awe of the 1978 cast. You and everyone of your cast are gorgeous and inspiring. But it's a shame if you can't see the heart and the passion from the blood, sweat and tears the 1999 company gave in our performance, because it is there... right in front of you.
I had the privilege of seeing this, and I've never quite gotten over it. It was the most thrilling electrifying show I've ever seen and this clip really doesn't capture the wild ride it was. I was exhausted when I came out and so high I couldn't sleep. We'll never see this kind of show again, or dancing like this either. Sadly. Nothing has this kind of razor sharp herd edged brilliance these days. It was FABULOUS.
I became obsessed with Dancin' back in 1978 and travelled to New York several times to see it and on each trip attended the show several times. I was dazzled by Ann Reinking, Sandahl Bergman, Wayne Cilento and all of the cast who moved so exquisitely. All the craft departments (costumes,musicianship,lighting) fired on all cylinders. And there was no moment more theatrical (for its time) than at the commencement of the show.All the lighting rigs were lying on the floor of the stage as the audience took their seats and then as the show began the rigs began to rise and take their place above the stage as the lights came on to illuminate the show. Sing,Sing,Sing closed the show and sent one out of the theatre joyfully in awe of the incredible dancing one had just witnessed all through the performance.
Yes Fosse dancers recreate the steps brilliant, but when you see the original cast of Dancin’ there’s more something behind the steps, a story behind each step - when the master isn’t there!!!!! When I see the fosse dancers (frm the show fosse/a tribute to him)brilliant dancers but there is a depth, a profoundness missing
I saw both shows. When I saw Dancin' is was less than a week before its offical opening on Broadway. The dancers were on FIRE!! I bought a last minute ticket from someone in front of the theater (maybe it was $15) and wound up in the sixth row (a bit on the side). My mouth stayed open in amazement for most of the show (not all the numbers were stellar), yet it REMAINED open for the entire number of SING SING SING. Yeah, the show Fosse was a nice way to memorialize Bob Fosse. yet the difference was like seeing an original painting and seeing a print of that painting. RIP Ann Reinking!
A completely different dance than the latter interpretation. I so enjoy the original more. It is a celebration rather than a presentation! Saw both live...WOW!
I love how masculine the men are moving and how feminine the women are moving. This is one of the all time most exciting dance numbers of ANY kind ever. Love you, Fosse and miss you. And love all you masterful Fosse dancers. Often imitated. Never replicated.
Love this. Must say that with a lack of variety shows since the late 70s, television doesn't always photograph choreography well. Some missed opportunities, but I'm grateful for any record of genius like Fosse's.
Two incredible groups of dancers offering different interpretations of the same brilliant choreography! Thank you so much for posting this!!! (And, as much as I want to avoid comparison, I do need to take a moment to worship at the alter of Ann Reinking and her unmatched grace. She is a goddess. But Shannon Lewis and Elizabeth Parkinson are damn near demi-goddesses!)
