Thanks to Beyoncé and others, Fosse’s influence lives on.Like many great pop songs, “Single Ladies” is based upon seemingly simple, sing-songy melodies. It won the Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009. Regardless of how some Broadway experts viewed the video, it was acclaimed. Fosse had a subtext to the steps, so that you would be doing something with your hips, but with your eyes and your head, you’re thinking ‘How do you like this?’” You’re in the business of communicating ideas. Whether you’re singing and dancing, you’re acting. Beddow felt Beyoncé was missing the “acting” component of Fosse’s choreography.īeddow explained “The point of his work was it was all about acting. However, she felt Beyonce’s take on “Mexican Breakfast” was reductive. She said Fosse would have been glad to see Beyoncé looking “sexy” in the music video with her backup dancers. Writing for Playbill, Robert Simonson said the “Single Ladies” choreography “was largely lifted (or ‘inspired,’ if you prefer a more generous word) from a Bob Fosse dance.” Simonson seemed upset by Beyoncé’s choice to take inspiration from Fosse.įosse’s underling Margery Beddow had a mixed appraisal of Beyoncé’s routine. I thought, ‘Wow, how amazing would that be now?’ The difficult process of filming ‘Single Ladies’Ī video comparison of the “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” and “Mexican Breakfast” “I saw on YouTube-It’s these three ladies, and one of them is Bob Fosse’s wife, who’s this choreographer, and they’re doing ‘Walk it Out.’ …It’s one take, and it’s black and white.

She discussed “Mexican Breakfast” on 106 & Park. The choreography apparently connected with her.īeyoncé has been open about taking inspiration from the clip. Specifically, she found a clip of The Ed Sullivan Show where three female dancers performed a Fosse routine called “Mexican Breakfast.” One of the dancers was Fosse’s wife, Gwen Verdon. Beyoncé once found a clip of some choreography by Broadway legend Bob Fosse. YouTube is a huge part of many peoples’ lives.

Beyoncé with her hands on her hips | Kevin Winter/Getty Images How a YouTube video and a Broadway legend inspired Beyoncé The idea for the “Single Ladies” dance came from an unexpected source.

One of her proudest moments as an artist is her video for “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It).” The dancing in that video remains one of the most impressive choreographed routines in any music video.Īll great artists have influences.

Beyoncé is one of the most transcendent icons of our time.

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