JAZZ DANCE RESEARCH PAPER Compare/Contrast Bob Fosse & Gene Kelly - Essay Example

The musical go the attention of Abbott and Robbins two of Broadways acknowledged masters who engaged him in the production of “The Pajama Game.” Fosse introduced his trademark choreographic style by employing the vaudeville styles such as double takes, slights of hand and pratfalls which were spiced up with sexually aggressive styles. He was greatly influenced by Jack Cole and Jerome Robbins. Fosse died from a heart attack while he was at the Willard Hotel in Washington D.C (Gottfried 15-34).

Gene Kelly was born in 1912 to an Irish family in Pittsburgh. His father was an itinerant salesman while his mother had a passion for exposing her children into the arts. By his teens, Gene and his sibling Fred attained control, of a dancing school while their parents indulged in alcohol. A few years of choreographing made Kelly believe in his prowess as a dancer and choreographer and he departed for New York. His first role was in “Leave It to Me” but it was not until he was cast in “Pal Joey” that he had his big break.

Gene Kelly was to a great part influenced by Robert Alton and John Murray Anderson in his portrayal of mood and insights on character (Yudkoff 105-9). He also learnt African American tap dancing under Frank Harrington and Spanish dancing under Angel Cansino. He is most known for revolutionizing movie musicals through incorporating special effects. The use of these methods made his movie musical “Singing in the Rain” the most acclaimed dance film of all time. Kelly died in 1996 after suffering a stroke in his Beverly Hills home.

Fosse and Kelly both worked in Jazz dance and hence they have many similarities and also some differences due to their different influences. Fosse is known for his sexually aggressive style which consisted of five dances, his vaudeville inspired dances, an old English dancehall, a gypsy