Section 3- Shadows and Sufi Flashcards
Describe the physical setting in this section
The lighting is a light, bright wash over the whole of the stage. Shadows are created on the side and back gauzes. At first, all the shadows are separate and disjointed but at certain key moments they come together as one.
What is the impact if the sufi turns?
Creates the idea of the whirling dervishes who perform spinning as part of a religious service. They spin until they reach a higher state of consciousness. Suffism- sufi is turning that creates a sense of worship.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation. How is it developed? Include aural setting and lighting.
The aural setting at this point is very rhythmic and percussive with a sense of drive. The physical setting shows the shadows are about to emerge. The dancers perform a step turn step turn step, rocking on to the outside foot before repeating the other way. As they turn they fling their arms to the side.
It is developed by continually changing the stage face and stage place and with the addition of elevation. Larbi also adds embelishments with a head circle and wrist movement.
These sufi turns come from Khan’s kathak background and are very chaeotic and confused to represent how Khan is feeling about his identity and the situation.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation. Include aural setting and lighting.
There is a low tone which is ominous and foreboding. A high string note can be heard when Larbi offers his hand. Two shadows are created on the back gauze. Larbi is stood stage right facing upstage whith his left hand out. Khan is stood stage left and is looking quite meek and intimidated.
This reflects the cousin knowing what to do when khan doesn’t. Khan is reluctant to do as he is told, showing moral strain.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation. Include aural setting and lighting.
The two shadows overlap in the middel of the upstage gauze. The dancers stand perfectly equal distances from downstage centre.
This could be interpreted as the two collaborators coming together or the two parts of Khan’s identity becoming one.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation.
Larbi begins to sufi turn at incredible speed with the shadows still being overlapped.
This demonstrates the tension in their heritage, how Khan feels ‘Bangladeshi in England and English in Bangladesh’
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation. Include aural setting and lighting.
The vocals begin to be added in and the stage shows a white wash, exposing light. The dancers perfom a sequence of sufi turns in a circular pathway and then perorm a diving eurocrash style role over their forearms continuing the circle.
This circular pathway is very territorial and anamalistic which is a feature of LArbi’s style. Also the Eurocrash roll shows their shared styles coming together.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation.
There are two clear low notes before silence. Khan performs extremely fast spins towards Larbi who is stood facing stage right just off centre towards stage left. Khan hits Larbi with an open hand and he falls to the floor. Khan is left looking at his hand.
This could represent the way that Khan was so caught u in his internal conflict that he failed to save the man who died and is left with the reminder of his actions.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation.
Larbi is lying prone on the floor, he snaps in to a ball type position on his knees with his head tucked in, elbows out to the side. Khan touches Larbi on the back and his upper body bounces, this is repeated.
Khan has turned Larbi in to a basket ball, an inanimate object. This shows the manipulation- if its okay to manipulate an object is it okay to manipulate a person?
Explain the how the audience react.
They laugh, they don’t understand what is going on.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation.
A development of a previous movement. Khan gets ‘bounced’ in to a crouch position, knees out to the side, ebows out to the side, ands facing in.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation. How is it developed?
Downstage centre, in front of the microphone, Larbi is sat in a jazz split. Khan continues to bounce his head until suddenly his head hits the floor making a dull, echoing thud.
This shows the influence of Pina Bausch. The brutality of Larbi hitting his head makes the audience audibly gasp as they were not expecting it to go that far. Is some manipulation okay? Shows how the brutality of your actions have an impact on someone else, causing pain.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation. How is it developed?
Larbi now acts like the cast Marka. Khan stands larbi up centre stage facing the audience and holds him by the head. Khan lets go of his headand Larbi falls to his knees, then his head hits the floor, then his arms flop down. This is then repeated.
Idea of Khan’s frustration at his cast not being able to do anything.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation.
Larbi literally becomes like a cast. He lies down on the floor stage left and shuffles in closer to the wall placing himself in to the same position as Ibral.
This represents the transition point between living and dead, between the performer and the set.
Explain the movement this picture represents and its interpretation.
Khan gently strokes the face of Ibral. This is completely unexpected and abstract. The first significant interaction with the mannequin. After the brutality of the previous section it is very gentle.
This shows the way that Khan wanted to treat the body but wasn’t allowed to
