In 2012 the American Dance Machine for the 21st Century approached The Verdon Fosse Legacy to reconstruct the Act I finale number, “Beat Me, Daddy (Eight to the Bar),” from Bob Fosse®’s final Broadway musical, BIG DEAL (1986). Career-long assistant and noted authority on Bob Fosse®, Kathryn Doby was brought in from California along with original cast members Lloyd Culbreath, Valarie Pettiford, Cady Huffman, Roumel Reaux, and Candace Tovar to help reconstruct the intricate and athletic production number. “Beat Me Daddy” was performed at an exclusive showing on November 14th, 2012.  

The experience ignited the mission of The Verdon Fosse® Legacy. Movement, stories, connections, and conversations were remembered and imparted upon an eager cast of young dancers. In 2013, The Verdon Fosse® Legacy created The Bob Fosse® Master Class Series with the goal to keep the work alive—reconstructing Bob Fosse®’s original choreography from both stage and screen through an intensive master class format for younger generations of professional and pre-professional dancers. “There has been no other project since my father’s death that has been this true to his original intent,” remarks Nicole Fosse®.

In The Bob Fosse® Master Class Series, students gain deeper understanding of Fosse® technique, style, vocabulary, and work ethic through reconstruction of original choreography from such award-winning works as “All That Jazz,” BIG DEAL, CHICAGO, Bob Fosse®’s DANCIN’, “Liza with a Z,” PIPPIN, SWEET CHARITY, and THE PAJAMA GAME.

The Legacy also offers Intro to Fosse®, an open level class perfect for beginners, experienced dancers looking to hone their skills, and Fosse®-fans alike to learn the fundamentals of Bob Fosse®'s signature style, vocabulary, and inspiration.

The Bob Fosse® Master Class Series has visited:

Steps on Broadway

Broadway Dance Center

EDGE Performing Arts Center

The Ailey School

American Ballet Theatre

Bucknell University

La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts

McCallum Fine Arts Academy

Kanyok Arts Initiative

Manhattan Movement and Arts Center

A. W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts

BOOM (Broadway Official Online Masterclass)

New York University

Broadway Arts Community

SD Prism Dance Workshop

Connecticut Dance Alliance

Tom Todoroff Acting Conservatory

North Carolina School of the Arts

Joel Hall Dancers and Center

Oklahoma City University

Newark Academy

Wright State University

Pace University

Wagner College

The Growing Stage

Sam Houston State University

Randolph High School

Camp Spotlight

Chambers Performing Arts

Dance & Dialogue

Shuffles Broadway Tap and Musical Theater School

Paramount Arts Center

Playhouse Theatre Group

Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts (Amsterdam)

Centro Danzaicerca (Milan)