Following on from the previous Video Blog post, which focused in on the Bob Fosse choreographed number, ‘The Rich Man’s Frug’ from the film Sweet Charity in 1969, this is another Fosse routine from his next, and most famous film, ‘Cabaret’ (1972) – Liza Minnelli, in the lead role of Sally Bowles, performing ‘Mein Herr’.
Bob Fosse was one of the most innovative choreographers of both Broadway’s and Hollywood’s post-war era, his best-known work being ‘Sweet Charity’ (director / choreographer - stage 1966, film 1969), ‘Cabaret’ (director / choreographer - film 1972), ‘Chicago’ (writer / director / choreographer – stage 1975), and ‘All That Jazz’ (writer / director / choreographer – film 1979).
Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers were a group of black club kids who’d pioneered the highly athletic second wave of the lindy hop dance style, which would spawn the jitterbug and the jive, at Harlem’s legendary Savoy Ballroom in the 1930’s. Perfecting the ‘air steps’ / ‘ariels’, which described the motion of the female dancers, who’d be thrown around by their male partners, this was as wild a style of dancing as ever devised, and it’d be another 40 years, and the advent of breakdancing, before anything came close in terms of sheer power, strength and energy.
To be described as “the most amazing dancers I have ever seen in my life—ever” by no less an authority as Mikhail Baryshnikov, one of the greatest male ballet dancers of all-time, you begin to get the weight of just how phenomenal the Nicholas Brothers were, yet most people haven’t even heard of them – a somewhat tragic state of affairs.
Old timer Rufus Thomas was on the crest of a renaissance as he took to the stage at the Wattstax Music Festival, which was held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on August 20th 1972. The early 70’s had brought him 3 hit singles, ‘(Do The) Push And Pull’, The Breakdown and ‘Do The Funky Chicken’, one of the biggest dance tracks of the era, and he was hotter than he’d ever been.
Recently found this piece I did in June 2007 for the now defunct magazine One Week To Live, where I listed a track per year from the summers of ’74 through to ’80. It’d be good to hear your own memories of summers gone by if you’d like to post a comment. Wishing you fun in the sun in the months to come.
Just come across an interview I did last year where I was asked what my favourite dance move was: Been meaning to pay homage to the Nicholas Brothers, and Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers, ever since I started the blog, so feast your eyes – here are the handful of clips I mentioned:
Respect to Don ‘Campbellock’ Campbell and his California compatriots. Some links for your visual appreciation:
Animation - Max & Dave Fleischer, Cab Calloway, Betty Boop – proper genius from 1932.
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