Zero Degrees (2005) Flashcards
When was this work first performed?
2005
Who was the work made in collaboration with?
-choreographically = Akram Khan
-set design = Antony Gormley
What is the subject matter and context behind this work?
-a complex subject matter with many different dimensions to it
-it follows Khan and Larbi on a journey to seek the reference point, the point between boarders, the positive and negative, zero degrees.
-inspired by their own dual identities, the two search for this middle point through polar opposites - becoming and death, light and dark, chaos and order.
-the narrative core of the duet is based on the train journey that Khan made from Bangladesh to India, where Khan witnesses death for the very first time. He talks about looking at the body, and at what point do you transition from life to death. The talking of their passports is linked to the theme of identity, and Khan’s stood out on the train because it was British red, making him more vulnerable.
-both Larbi and Khan grew up in a dual heritage household, Larbi = Flemish and Moroccan, Khan = Bangladesh and British
What is the physical setting?
-an empty and bare stage
-the only feature is 2 white casts of Khan and Larbi, called Marka and Ibral. They are exact clones of them made from putting white plaster over their bodies. They represent their own dual identities and acknowledge the 2 physical halves to themselves. One is in a stood up position and the other is crawling, but they are able to be moved
-it is apart of Antony Gormley’s artistic style to create clones of things and people
What is the movement style used in this work?
-features both classical Kathak and European Tanz Theatre
-Kathak is a form of story telling through gestures which Larbi learnt, called Mudras
-Larbi filmed Khan tell him the train story for the very first time and they took the natural and authentic gestural hand movements which Khan did and turned this into their own synchronised system of text and gesture
Give a movement example which shows the synchronised system of text and gesture
-Larbi and Khan are both sat on the floor crossed legged downstage centre. In complete unison they begin telling the train story to the audience. At one point their focus is down to the right and they are resting their chins on their clasped hands, together they say ‘and he looked very very powerful’ and on powerful they lift their heads to look directly at the audience, and point their fingers.
-through this simple gesture, they are recreating the power that the guards had over Khan on the train to the audience. The guards were able to spot Khans red coloured passport so easily giving them power, and links back to theme of identity
Give a movement example which shows pure Kathak style and the interpretation
-Larbi and Khan use footwork to make sounds imitating the train on the tracks on Khans journey from Bangladesh to India. They move around the stage doing stamp scuff step which is Kathak movement known as Tatkar (footwork).
Give a movement example which shows gestural martial arts, giving the interpretation
-in episode 2, Khan and Larbi and positioned in the centre of a bright white horizontal strip of light, stood opposite each other, and they do lots of mirroring gestural movements towards one another. At one point one of them swipes their arm forwards in a horizontal plane, causing the other to do a backbend moving out of the way. This gestural martial arts movement shows duality as they are exploring each other’s culture and the other ones identity.
Give a movement which shows the use of the white casts/ physical setting, with the interpretation
-in episode 12/13 Larbi walks backwards across the stage dragging Khan and his white cast clone by their hands then let’s go leaving them lay on the floor. He walks around and looks at them then one at a time picks them up into a fireman’s lift over his shoulders. He spins on the spot before suddenly dropping them both off his shoulders and onto the floor
-shows once again dual identity, as what ever the white cast does, Khan replicates too. The use of the props is influence of Tanz Theatre as blending everyday movement with theatre.
