ICDS KHAN Flashcards
What alternative methods were used to create choreography in Zero Degrees?
Khan and Larbi used ‘playtime’ whilst choreographing Zero Degrees, a method which started with filming Khan telling a story to Larbi which actually became the starting point and focus of the work they created.
What new forms of staging has occurred for Khan?
non-conventional places - Glastonbury Festival, Khan’s Dust (2014) was performed shortly after its premiere.
How is audience diversity increased?
Embracing culture
- Khan’s dual national background is the foundation of Zero Degrees exploration of identity
- Kathak dance and traditions such as Sufi turns and bols
- Shines light on Bangladeshi culture and beliefs
When was Zero Degrees created?
2005
Who was involved in the project Zero Degrees?
Akram Khan, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Anthony Gormley, Nitin Sawhney
What are the sections in Zero Degrees?
- Trench
- The Women
- The Duet
What was Khan rewarded with after the Olympic games?
He was given an OBE
How was Khan impactful on where Dance was performed?
Choreographer in residence at Royal Festival Hall - first non music performance there, paved the way for other mediums to perform there
What are the characteristics of Khan’s movement style
- Choreographic devices; repetition, reordering, accumulation
- Juxtaposes simplicity with complexity
- Abstract themes with a focus on narrative
- Kathak and contemporary fusion
- Linear formations and patterns
- Strong gestures in the torso and arms
- Not gender specific material
- Rhythm is emphasised, speed seen as a technique
- Explored energy routes in the body
- Thoughtful, provocative and ambitious dance productions for international stages
- Fast turns using heel of the foot and flat foot (sufi turns)
- Lots of floor work and quick transfer of weight
- Collaboration with other artists
- Strong body shapes, angular gestures and contraction of the torso
- Percussive dynamics that are rhythmic and exhaustive
What are the influences on Khan?
- Michael Jackson
- Pratap Pawar
- Bruce Lee
- Theatre and Drama
- Maths
- Charlie Chaplin
- Muhammed Ali
- Fred Astaire
Who is Pratap Pawar and how has he influences Khan?
- His Guru and Kathak teacher
- Guru suggests God like status
- Admires his “masculine yet graceful style”
- Kathak; footwork, rhythm, mathematical precision, storytelling, fast turns, gestures
- Influenced Khan’s use of challenging themes (masculinity), pedestrian gesture, embracing cultural differences (cultural heritage)
How did Bruce Lee influence influence Khan?
- eclecticism (boxing/wrestling)
- multidisciplinary (mix of traditions)
- embracing cultural differences
- he incorporates multiple styles (wing, chun, boxing, wrestling)
- “Be like water” (khan likes to play with fluidity and energy patterns)
How does Theatre and Drama influence Khan?
- performed in plays since a child
- Peter Brooks, Jungle Book
- used to performing a narrative, character, emotion and concepts to an audience
- use of storytelling and multidisciplinary approaches
When was Sacred Monsters?
2006
What was costume like in Sacred Monsters?
- She is wearing traditional Kathak bells on her wrists
- Hair is out, he later plaits in contact work
- Skin coloured shirt, wide legged cotton black trousers
- He wears a black tshirt, green wide legged pants
What is the set of Sacred Monsters?
No wings, on stage at all times
Ripped paper, crumpled
White floor of stage
Musicians on stage, DSL+R
Set looks like an arctic cave
What is the aural setting of Sacred Monsters?
Rhythmic quality of kathak and monologue
Violin, cello, percussion, vocals
Piece opens with vocals - question score
What was collaborative in Sacred Monsters?
Sylvie Guillem
Collaboration of styles, Khan includes ballet within his kathak movements, sylvie uses kathak within her ballet training - very contemp.
What is the context of Sacred Monsters?
Quran - Sacred Monsters in it - term became popular in France in 19th century, was a nickname for big artists - marks the birth of contemporary stardom - given divine status
- French rev just happened - shift away from monarchy love
- Flip side of stardom - she was with French Paris Opera, who gave her an ultimatum, if she goes to Khan’s work she has to leave the company - lack of autonomy
- “Divine status becomes inhuman and monstrous [..] The stage a monster… My sacred monster.” - Sylvie Guillem
- The piece starts with a question sung by one of the on stage musicians
What is a movement example of Sacred Monsters?
SG locks her legs around AKs waist and leans backwards. Both raise arms in graceful shapes. Their upper bodies mirror each other in complex changing patterns.
- Hinduism, Religion - Kathak contemp.
- Bruce Lee Multidiscipline mix of traditions
- Pratap Pawar
What is a movement example of Sacred Monsters?
SG swings her leg in a fan kick around, the momentum causing her to quickly wrap around in a turn. She steps forward and develope’s her RL into a six o’clock extension, her head down over her left shoulder, her arms straight down with drenched fists.
- Balletic
- Slow controlled
- contemp.
What is the context of Giselle?
- Tamara Rojo (AD of ENB) states that “revisit, reinterpreted, re-edited to make ballet relevant today”.
- ENB dancers.
- story of Giselle - love, betrayal, revenge and forgiveness - sense of urgency in telling this story
- khan’s interest in stories - childhood - next went on to do Creature with ENB
- ballet shoes - courus -
- crossing over into different countries - Migrant crisis - response to Brexit - Me Too - movements is quite folky; playing with cultural traditions