Fosse

This excellent game simulates a dance routine in the style of Bob Fosse (Cabaret, All That Jazz, etc.) It’s good for getting something that resembles a dance out of people who are not natural dancers. It’s funnier than it sounds.

Ask for an activity. “What’s something you did today?” (Washing dishes, shopping for jeans…)

One player stands at the front as the leader and performs a series of dance moves inspired by the activity. The rest of the players (the more the better) line up behind, as a chorus line. They keep their eyes on the leader and imitate the leader’s moves. This can produced a surprisingly well synchronized line.

The music should be lively and instrumental, with a 1960s jazz sound. Something from a real Bob Fosse musical can work well – eg, “Rich Man’s Frug” from Sweet Charity. Something with a clear ending is good.

The player at the front controls the action, so put one of your group’s more natural dancers there. They need to keep finding new types of moves (a common problem is getting stuck in a narrow range), and repeat each one several times. You’ll find that strong, deliberate moves are easiest to keep up with.

If the dance is based around an activity – say vacuuming – remember that it’s a dance based on the activity, not an exercise in mime. Break down the activity into details – dance moves can be based on plugging in the vacuum, pushing the vacuum over the carpet, tugging and untangling the cord, changing hte bag, removing hair from the rollers. Make each of these into big movements. Try to “play” the dancer even if you’re not one – that wide-awake, glitter-eyed enthusiasm and intensity.

Other types of suggestions can serve well as the basis for the dance. A good one is to do a “Day in the Life” dance – ask for several things a person has done that day, then reenact them in dance form.

Fosse can be a good game for use with audience volunteers. Put them in the chorus line along with the players and create a huge musical number.

Variation: Two leads

Instead of one lead dancer, there are two, Dancer A and Dancer B.

The dancers behind them are arranged into two groups. Group A follows the moves of Dancer A, while Group B follows the moves of Dancer B.

The dancers can be lined up in a chorus line, ordered A-B-A-B, or positioned more randomly around the stage (although everyone should be able to see the leads). The result looks complex and interesting.

One good effect if you have the numbers (at least four men and four women) is to have a male and a female lead, with a matching group of male and female followers. The interactions between the leads are imitated by the followers. (A nice ask-for here is the details of a first date.)

To parody the Bob Fosse style, make the men cool and indifferent, strutting and preening. Women are seductive and sultry. Add a few bowler hats and deliberately tweak the brim. (You can buy cheap plastic costume versions.)