Dance Essay Essay Example for Free

Dance Essay Essay Chosen to look at the productions Cell Block Tango from Chicago and Rosas Danst Rosas by Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker. I wanted to compare these two dance pieces, as I felt the concept behind them, was very similar. Both pieces represent strong female roles, demonstrated by movement and strong characters. In Chicago, the fosse inspired production, choreographed by Rob Marshall, looked at the political issue of women trying to escape their stereotypical role as the domestic care giver in attempt to be individualists. Whereas in Rosas Danst Rosas, choreographed by Anne Teresa De Keersmaecher, her choreography reflects back on feminist issues that females in society faced. Both dance pieces portrayed these issues through movement, in very different ways. Bob Fosse was the original choreographer for Chicago, however, Rob Marshall adapted the Fosse choreography to his interpretation for the film in 2002. Bob Fosse was born in Chicago, Illinois, 1927 and died in 1987. His life was dedicated to dance, he is acknowledged around the world for his outstanding, unique style. He was an American, actor, dancer, director, screen writer and film editor. At a young age he teamed up with another young dancer, Charles Grass, and began a collaboration called ‘The Riff Brothers. ’ Fosse then went on to direct many productions, for example, Sweet Charity, Billion Dollar Baby, dancin, and Chicago. Chicago was originally from a 1926 play by the reporter Maurine Dallas Watkins, she bases her plays on actual criminals and crimes she reported on. It was then, as said above, originally choreographed by Bob Fosse, his style is strongly identified throughout the production. In 1996 Chicago holds the record for the longest running Broadway revival. In 2002 the Academy-award winning film version of the musical was released, directed by Rob Marshall. Rob Marshall is an American theatre director, film director and choreographer. Marshall was born in Madison, Wisconsin and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He attended Carnegie Mellon University where he was trained in jazz and ballet. Chicago is about two women who go to prison as they have called their partners, who find themselves awaiting their trails and having the same passion, to be a singer and fight for the fame that will keep them from the gallows. I have chosen to specifically research one of the routines from Chicago, which is Cell Block Tango, the dance is about six woman whom have killed their partners, they all have separate parts in the dance, which portray the hatred and re-enactment of when they killed them and why. I felt this was very effective as it signifies the power of woman, and their independence. They wanted to show the audience that if they were in their position they would of done the same. I noticed they use a lot of gestures that indicate power, for example when they are stomping. The dance is also very seductive, empowering over men.