All The Single Ladies

Recently, and completely by random, I came across Beyonce's All The Single Ladies video on Much Music.

I was mesmerized from the first second I saw it and did not blink till it was over.

Couldn't believe what an AMAZING video this was: this was dancing at an Olympian level. It is shot in black and white in a studio with no props or sets. The video features Beyonce and two backup dancers doing some of the most athletic and energetic steps for 3 and half minutes. Dressed in beautiful black one pieces with a distinct retro cut, great big 70's hair and the loveliest 7 inch Mary Jane (ish) platform heels. But, the true star of this video was the choreography -which was ingenious...and got me thinking of how much we have reinvigorated dance culture in the last few years with shows like So you think you Can Dance and yes, even, Dancing with the Stars...I was shocked to realize how far the art of dancing must have advanced to even consider making this kind of video - which is pure dancing.
Instantly I fell in love with this video.

this BTW is part of my compulsiveness. when I'm taken by something I'm all in - I should note that I have very hight standards for arts and am rarely wrong.I remember how the one time I heard James Blunt, whom I'd never heard of previously, playing on late night TV and said "this guy is going to be a hit, he's amazing." and he did...

anywhooo...

So I found it on YouTube and watched it over and over and over, told all my friends about it, and THEY told me that this was the number 2 video on the charts. But I did not stop talking about it for a few days longer to a few more friends.

When I showed it to David, he told me, yeah I know, it was based on a choreography by Bob Fosse who was one of the foremost American musical theater and movies directors Chorus Line, Cabaret and All That Jazz fame . He had produced this piece for his wife Gwen Verdon who was a dance Icon who had performed it on the Ed Sullivan Show!

Well that explained everything!

This video is amazing NOT because we are in a renaissance of the art of dance, but BECAUSE it is a reincarnation of a classic piece of modern American dance. When you look at this one video put up by a fan of Fosse, who juxtaposed the original choreography with Beynce's moves you see the inspiration and the imitation. If you look closely enough, you will even notice how the dancer on the left is slightly off beat, just like in the original... It's uncanny!

This video is an homage to one of the greatest choreographer of our times - wether it's imitation or inspiration or just a product of the times, I say KUDOS for Beyonce keeping the art o dancing alive!