Sutra Flashcards
SECTION 1
Larbi starts with a gesture as he mimics the monks dancing on the larger boxes. His finger mimics movement of the sword as his left hand traces a line towards the young monk who perform a thinking gesture as he watches larbi intently
THEME
EAST VS WEST -
both larbi who represents the west and the young monk who represents the east are teaching each other. Clear connection between the two dancers as the young monk looks closely at everything larbi does
SECTION 2
Larbi stands and walks across the top of the boxes, faint squeaks of a violin can be heard as he hits his stick in to one of the boxes and pulls out another monk as if he is controlling him. Larbi jumps off the box and turns the stick in a circular motion moving the monk who is holding the stick. Larbi let’s go of the stick but keeps moving his left arm in a circular motion which moves the monk in the same way
THEME
FREEDOM AND CONTAINMENT-
the idea of larbi being in control of the monk and the monk not being able to do his own movement could connote how larbi felt contained in western society by controlled by their society to make more works that appealed to them yet he wanted to be free from that cycle he found himself trapped in
SECTION 2
The monk then moves erratically to slow down the music changes and the monk performs a routine where the stick is constantly in a circular motion around his body and head.
THEME
SPIRITUAL/ PERSONAL JOURNEY
The theme of being controlled is still underlying through circular motions which larbi previously mimicked but portrays as if the monk has learnt something as he can now dance on his own similar to how larbi learnt from the monks
SECTION 3
The monk pauses kneeling on the floor looking confused he runs across the maze to jump on top of the vertical box and lowers himself in. The music hanged to more minimalistic piano notes. The young monk proceeds to pop up out of each hole like an animal
THEME
GAMES
the section was intended to show the entry in to fantasyland and the idea of falling down a rabbit hole as the young monk presents animal like qualities through animalistic gestures. Here is a clear childlike quality as the young monk pops up and out of the mole holes like playing hide and seek.
SECTION 3
The music stops and the adult monk runs down the maze scaring the young monk back in. They pull away the boxes to reveal the young monk hiding in a horizontal box like and animal in a trap. He crawls up and down banging his head at either end trying to escape but he can’t. Larbi walks over and flips the box vertically and diagonally. The young monk yells and bangs looking panicked another monk walks over and helps larbi flip the box to trap the young monk.
THEME
FREEDOM AND CONTAINMENT
The box is a metaphor for our minds which cause limitations for our bodies. Presents how we are trapped as the young monk gets trapped. Larbi mental state is presented here as he felt trapped in western society
SECTION 4
They turn to perform a series of ferocious and aggressive fast paced punches lunges and circling of the arms above the head in canon jumping on and off the box. The music is melancholic allowing the audience to hear chants telling the monks when to go.
THEME
CONTRAST AND JUXTAPOSITIONS
KUNG FU MOTIF
Their fast paced movement is contrasted by the soft piano notes in the music highlighting the monks contradiction of peace and power in their movement and the music.
SECTION 4
The monks jump back on the platform and lift their arms up bringing them down in to prayer. They walk off one at a time in a precession to the back of the stage then separating in to two lines either side of a catwalk.
THEME
CONTRAST AND JUXTAPOSITION
KUNG FU MOTIF
It finishes softly reinforcing the serenity and calm tone felt before. This slow prayer contrast their fast paced movement previously allowing larbi to present how powerful and peaceful the monks are.
SECTION 5
Larbi looks around the box trapped at first swinging his arms out trying to escape and contorting his body around.
THEME
FREEDOM AND CONTAINMENT
Larbi is trapped inside the box connoting how he was contained in the west and in his own mindset. When the young monk enters the box larbi appears to feel more calm.
SECTION 5
Larbi lifts his left leg up in a developé to make room for the young monk, he mimics larbi lifting his right leg to mirror each other’s movement. Larbi rests his head on the young monks foot and he tries to do the same to larbi but cannot reach his foot . Larbi then lowers his leg causing the young monk to do the same. They both turn to face the back still mirroring each other and they perform a back bend with larbi on top of the young monk
THEME
MEETING BETWEEN LARBIS AND THE MONKS
both dancers work together and support each other brought their movement to present how close their relationship has become portraying how their meeting has developed them both; larbi in a spiritual way and the monks to be able to work with rhythm and different dance styles.
