akram khan

background and influences

south London dual nationality traditional Bengali dance kathak dance siri patwar patar

choreographic approach

collaborative approach narrative and abstract

isles of wonder context

rich uk heritage London 2012 Olympics victims of the 7/7 bombings

movment example isle of wonder begining

dancers begin crouched down then all but one quickly and sharply throw their arms in the air while a breath sounds stood in a diamond shape

movement example iow pulse

pulse begins the dancers step to the side and split down the middle a young boy runs down the centre followed by a spotlight

movement example iow line movment

low wide stance body curved forward followed by arms arms thrown forward and torso leaning back into body ripple

zero degrees context

identity dual natality collaboration with larbi and gormly

M E IOW ball

crouched travelling steps and circular arm gestures which seem to almost hold energy at the centre of the body which then expands into circular torso movement.

M E 0D turns

repeated Sufi turns changing directions crossing white line pedestrian style movement shadows connect later khan repeats earlier gestures used by the ensemble such as circling the hands fluidly around an imaginary ball in front of him and the pulsating wing-like gesture.

0 D M E floor section

Dancers sit cross legged, side by side. Their hands are splayed in front of their chest as they make a sweeping downward gesture. This action enhances the narrative of explaining what the guards were wearing

0 D M E dummy section

action and reaction Larbi aggressively kicks khans dummy khan mirrors the moment of his dummy till him and the dummy are stood up