In a 1999 interview, Gwen Verdon (1925 – 2000) expressed mild exasperation at the use of choreography by Bob Fosse (1927 – 1987) in a commercial by The Gap.
“It’s very interesting that right now there is “Go Go Khaki,” a commercial for The Gap. They are doing the Frug. It’s amazing. They are not supposed to lift steps like that. The whole concept. I don’t know who choreographed that.”
“Bob had this wonderful sense of humor and it was very irreverent. Take the Frug, there was a night club called Arthur’s. It was supposed to be a disco, but it was so gentle.
“We saw all these people — Mrs. Kennedy, Sybil Burton — it was just so elegant, but they thought they were swinging around like the kids do.
“He did it in three parts, the Aloof, The Heavy Weight, was a tribute to Floyd Paterson, and the big finish. He stayed current with what was going on in everybody’s social life.”
source: Interview with Gwen Verdon, Broadway Beat, cable television broadcast, Bradshaw Smith, director, June 22, 1999, courtesy The Paley Center for Media, New York. Thank you Jane Klain.
You bet she does, Jim. Thank you for sharing. Unbelievable.
Derricks used some of those same Fosse moves in the opening to Austin Powers round about that time (from c1:40 here ).
well, she got it! cheers, judith.
Marguerite Derricks takes responsibilty for this choreography job….
I cannot speak for her but believe she was looking for the fun Fosse flavor in this choreography.