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Bob Fosse Stamp

U.S. Postal Service stampe of choreographer Bob Fosse

Bob Fosse is shown on the set of Sweet Charity (1969) on this United States Postal Service stamp, issued today, which is National Dance Day, as part of their Innovative Choreographers series.

As the Postal Service explains, Fosse (1927-1987) received an Oscar, three Emmys, and nine Tony awards (He was nominated for Tonys a total of 22 times.) He changed the meaning of dance to millions of theatergoers.

Here is the Postal Service’s description of Fosse’s dance style:

“As an artist, Fosse was known for his thoroughly mod­ern style, a signature one could never mistake for anyone else’s. Snapping fingers are omnipresent, so are rakishly tilted bowler hats. Both hip and shoulder rolls appear fre­quently, as do backward exits. Swiveling hips and strutting predominate, as do white-gloved, single-handed gestures. Fosse himself often called the en masse amalgamation of these moves the “amoeba,” and that word as much as any describes his particular style, at once fluid and angular.”

Fosse was involved in a total of 21 productions on Broadway, as director, performer, writer, but mostly as choreographer. Fosse began his Broadway career in 1950, and, you could say, continues it posthumously: The hit musical revival of Chicago, which opened nine years after Fosse’s death, is billed as:

“Original choreography for “Hot Honey Rag” by Bob Fosse

“Book by Bob Fosse

“Original production directed and choreographed by Bob Fosse”

A list of his Tony Awards:

1955 Best Choreography for The Pajama Game

1956 Best Choreography for Damn Yankees

1959 Best Choreography for Redhead

1963 Best Choreography for Little Me

1966 Best Choreographer for Sweet Charity

1973 Best Direction of a Musical and Best Choreography for Pippin

1978 Best Choreography for Dancin’

1986 Best Choreography for Big Deal